Jackie Larson Bread

Jackie Larson Bread is a Native American beadwork artist from the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. Her interest in bead work was sparked from looking at her late-grandmother's beaded pieces. In awe of these objects, Bread self-taught herself how to bead when she was younger and now, she has been beading for more than 20 years. Continuing through trial and error, Bread has received numerous awards for her beading.

Education and training In 1978, Bread enrolled at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Upon completion, Bread earned associate degrees in two-dimensional art and museum studies. Afterwards, Bread continued her education at Santa Fe University of Art and Design. In 1986, Bread graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting.

Style and technique When beading, Bread uses the applique stitch method which requires the use of two needles, as the first needle holds a row of beads and the second needle pins down one bead at a time to receive a precise placement. Through illusionary beadwork, Larson mixes two different styles, traditional and contemporary imagery to create pictorial depth through different shades of beads. Within Bread's imagery beadwork, she integrates her culturally rich heritage and images of members of her community on bags, leather boxes, parasols, and other traditional items.

Artwork in collections

In 2005, Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan, New York, purchased and added Keeper of Random Thoughts to its collection Indian Corn II and Traveling Through Indian Country are in the collections of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C The Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico Honored by Montana's Circle of American Masters that recognizes artists that use their artwork as a reflection of Montana's heritage.