Collection: Oelze, Don

Don Oelze

Born in New Zealand, Don Oelze developed an early fascination with America, especially the culture and history of cowboys and Native peoples. He began drawing Native Americans at a young age and was often reprimanded in school for sketching in class instead of paying attention. When he was eight, his family moved to the United States, and he later completed his education at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. 

In 1992, while living in Seattle, Oelze met Everett, a Native American artist who created traditional Native art and totems. Their time working together inspired Oelze’s first major Native-themed painting and confirmed his passion for depicting Native American subjects. He later spent ten years in Japan, where he refined his skills and produced numerous works in his small Tokyo studio. 

In 2004, Oelze and his wife, Utako, returned to the United States and settled in Montana, where he continues to study the landscapes and cultures that inspire his paintings. His work has been featured in exhibitions both nationally and internationally.