Leonard Boyd, from the Spokane Tribe was born August 12, 1952 in Nespelem, Washington. Leonard creates alabaster sculptures and acrylic paintings. He has been an active sculptor since 1979 and painter since 1964.
For his paintings, Boyd enlarges old black-and-white photos of his tribe and then paints freehand color copies of them.
His grandfather was Chief Sam Boyd, the last traditional chief of the Spokane Tribe before it established a constitution and bylaws.
“When I change him from black-and-white to color, it’s like I bring him back to life,” Leonard Boyd said.
His sculptures are carved of alabaster rock from the Washita River. Leonard quarries his own alabaster because “It is more personal that way.”
Leonard has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Eastern Washington University (1978-87); San Francisco Art Institute (1980-81); IAIA, Santa Fe, New Mexico 1978-1980).
He states his work was influenced by all classmates and schools and from all tribes. Dr. Dick West was painting instructor at Haskell in Lawrence, Kansas 1971-1972. He also carved and sculpted with Andy Tsinajinnie (Navajo) at his home in Phoenix, Arizona.
