Billy Soza War Soldier, 23rd Annual California Indian Conference

Billy Soza War Soldier (Jan 3, 1949-Jan 18, 2014) studied at the Chicago Art Institute and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM. An active participant in the American Indian Movement of the 1970s, he experienced numerous injustices firsthand. His work reflects wild and free imagery that often contradicts his personal experience as a member of a larger indigenous movement. He works with oil paint that is applied to the canvas with a palette knife or directly from the tube. Warsoldier includes captivating, entrancing and healing experience in his paintings in order to share profound moments with the viewer.
Also see memorial: First American Art Magazine, Summer 2014, No. 3, p.78.