“Resilient, Beautiful, Strong”
Known for using silhouettes of nature and vibrant colors in her custom paintings, Shawna Boulette Grapentine is an Ojibwe Cree whose artwork highlights the beauty of Indigenous culture, her love for Mother Earth and everything that surrounds her.
“Immersed in Color, Inspired by Her Culture and Nature” features an array of luminous landscapes and expressive, rhythmic canvases that radiate the spirit of a moment and bring loved memories to life.
"All of my pieces consist of bright, bold colors,” Shawna says. “I feel that bright colors make me happy; it changes a mood and allows me to express my feelings and inspire others."
Everyone is welcome and invited into this space of inspiration, March 18 through May 17, 2025. As always, it is free to visit Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
SHAWNA BOULETTE GRAPENTINE
Known for using silhouettes of nature and vibrant colors in her custom paintings, Shawna Boulette Grapentine is an Ojibwe Cree whose artwork highlights the beauty of Indigenous culture, her love for Mother Earth and everything that surrounds her.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the middle child of seven—five brothers and one sister—Shawna was raised in the small Metis community of Manigotagan and is a member of the Hollow Water First Nation Treaty 5 Territory in Manitoba. As a family growing up in the country, they enjoyed the outdoors. With the little they had, her supportive and loving parents remained creative, filling holidays and family gatherings with music, fun, and laughter, inspiring her both musically and artistically. Teachings, family traditions, and respect were valued, from which she now takes pride in with her own family.
In Shawna's earlier years, she learned she had a great passion for sketching, painting, and creating art. She's proud to have been part of the Frontier School Division, providing her with a solid foundation for the arts where she was supported and inspired through many of the school’s programs.
Shawna is honored to be sharing her talent through her artwork, along with inspiring and teaching art programs to children and adults of all ages from the United States to some of the most remote communities in Canada. Locally, she has collaborated with and empowered students to paint custom murals at the Warroad Public School and Folk School Warroad that welcome and inspire people as they enter these learning spaces. As part of the Warroad School Native American Education Department, Shawna and her sister, Danielle, have developed educational initiatives—often including creative and artistic elements—to not only draw public awareness of, but to embrace, respect, and celebrate Indigenous culture.
In recent years, Shawna has had the privilege to create custom commissions for international events, lifting up and honoring Indigenous culture and the spirit of local communities. These include a "Player of the Game" hockey stick for the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships; the first-ever commemorative hockey stick for Hockey Day Minnesota (2024, Warroad); and her work, “Direction Determines Destiny,” awarded at the 2022 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition.
Many of these projects and pieces can be viewed on Shawna’s online shop, Moon & Back Custom Arts (moonandbackcustomarts.com). In operation since 2010, the name originated from a children's storybook that Shawna shared with her son, relating to her unconditional love for him. As an Indigenous-owned company proudly representing Canada and the United States, her vision is to create one-of-a-kind pieces bringing loved memories to life inspired by her culture, values, and passion for art.
Currently, Shawna and her family—husband, James, and son, Thomas—find themselves between Rainy River, Ontario, and Warroad, Minnesota, where her son attends Warroad Public School and plays hockey for the Warroad Warriors.