Brian D. Tripp, Native Reflections

Brian D. Tripp is honored both as a traditional dancer and singer, and an enigmatic, outspoken contemporary artist and poet in his Northern California Karuk Tribal community and beyond. Tripp uses his artwork to demonstrate his commitment to his community and Native American culture and his lifelong devotional interest in giving life to traditions and history.

Tripp’s art provides a new perspective on imagery familiar to the Native American tradition: motifs from basketwork, arrowheads, and Karuk ceremonial regalia – symbols passed down for generations are reinvigorated by Tripp’s use of vibrant color, formal geometric iconography, and strong, gestural expressionist line making. His contemporary versions pay homage to the inherent power of images long in use. Tripp draws from numerous art historical sources both Native and other, he often cites the legendary basket weaving of Wyot/Karuk artist Elizabeth Conrad Hickox as one of his primary influences, while also using punk, situationist, and graffiti aesthetic strategies. His work has been collected and exhibited extensively.
(https://booklyn.org/artists/brian-d-tripp/)