Bill Brien is a Lakota, Dakotah, Chippewa, Metis artist. Brien is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota. Brien is also from the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation also in North Dakota.
Brien graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, in 2011 with a degree in history with minors in philosophy and geography. Since 2011, Brien has resided in the city of Bismarck, ND.
In 2016, Brien found his love and passion for art because of his wife, Geri. Geri was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. In early 2015 Geri was cancer free but by the end of 2015 the cancer had returned and spread. Geri fought the cancer with courage, hope, and love and that inspired Brien to share her story through art. Brien’s wife was an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Lakota in SD.
Brien is a self taught artist. He calls himself “a digital cell phone artist.” His chosen medium is digital art, using his cell phone as his canvas to create all his work. Brien can create anywhere, when inspired.
The highlight of Brien’s art career is being recognized by the Bismarck Cancer Center at its annual Hope Giver’s Extraordinaire Banquet. Brien was recognized for donations made to the Bismarck Cancer Center from art sales in honor of his late wife, Geri. Geri made her Heavenly journey May 1, 2018, after a four year battle with breast cancer.