Over the years, Jerry Whitehead's artwork has gone through a number of stages. The one thing
that has remained constant throughout this progression is his focus on powwows and powwow dancers.

“Powwow dancers have been an ongoing theme in my work since I began painting. Seeing the dancers as a child had a lasting impression. The subject matter has been ideal for expressing a
part of my culture as well as accommodating changes in my work,” says the artist from the Peter Chapman First Nation.

As a child in Saskatchewan, Whitehead says he was interested in art like many of his friends. “I used to draw as a kid. I used to draw all the time.” Unlike the average child, he used almost any
materials he could find for his drawings, including ashes from fires and the lead from bullets his father used as a hunter.

In his early teen years, Whitehead transitioned from drawings to painting. He believes his interest in art comes from his family. He recalls his grandmother working with hides and his mother creating beadwork and brightly coloured braided rugs.

His family supported his talents and allowed him to develop them. “I was lucky to be encouraged along the way,” he says. In addition to this support and natural talent, Whitehead pursued formal training. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Indian Art from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax.

After completing his studies, Whitehead began exhibiting his work across Canada. Over the years, he has held numerous shows in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. His work has also been commissioned by institutions such as the University Hospital in Saskatoon and the Summer Pops Symphony at Cable Wharf in Halifax.

Whitehead notes that his style has evolved over time. “I went through a lot of different stages,”
he says. Early in his career, he incorporated beadwork into his paintings and experimented with
wrinkled canvas to create a dimensional effect.
Throughout these changes, powwows and dancers have remained a central theme. His current work features abstract paintings with vivid colours, influenced by his mother’s braided rugs. He explains that this style “just developed” over time.
“My work is a little tamer now,” he says. “It’s more refined.” He attributes this evolution to both artistic growth and changes in his personal life, as he now incorporates family themes more frequently into his work.

Whitehead avoids placing strict labels on his art. While others often try to define his style, he prefers to remain open to change and experimentation. “Lately, I’ve been incorporating letters, words, and sayings into my paintings,” he says. “‘Let’s Dance’ is about a family—Mom in the middle, Dad, and little girls—ready to dance all day and all night among others.”
Jerry Whitehead currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, and his work can be seen throughout Western Canada.