Heather Friedli Ratzlaf

Born: 1982

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Native American (Odawa Tribe/Mexican

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) BFA Fiber, Textiles & Weaving Arts 2005

""I create art which responds to the spiritual and natural world, using dreams as catalyst, through the lens of my Odawa and Mexican heritages. Through that lens I reflect upon the processes of life, death, and meditation. Life and death go hand in hand and are equally valuable and beautiful in their own right. Death does help bring us close to life- reminder of the fact that we have a finite time in this world. We need to take advantage of life and appreciate it every day." (etsy.com); "I’m motivated to create because of a need and longing in my soul. I attempt to synthesize my experience of the natural world for the viewer, the beauty and power of nature. I enjoy going into the physical landscape and experiencing it first hand. I ask “What is important about this land? What did people do that they loved here? What are the plants and animals that live in this space?” I constantly ask “What does my heritage mean to me, what does it mean about the landscape around me and my place in this land?” I bring the power of this into the art of landscape painting. This is the land of my people. I travel and am a part of this land, honoring the ancestors and existing through that lens." (friedliartgallery.com); "Processing our past and present through art is a way of healing generational traumas. In the case of my family's indigenous experience, I hope my art can lead to growth and understanding to those who view it. In 2020, I created a snow sculpture with my team of a jingle dress dancer which is a symbol of healing for many in North American Indigenous culture. In 2022 we created a work honoring the plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. By creating things from our culture, we’re able to bring that healing and continue to say we are still here. The only way you’re going to heal is to bring people together and bring the truth to light. You can only vanquish the darkness with sunshine. It’s also a great way to have a big public sculpture that is both ephemeral and meaningful to the community." (friedliartgallery.com); "

— Heather Friedli Ratzlaf

Field of Study: Art - Snow Sculpting

Institution/Corporation: MICA

Degrees & Memberships: None found

Awards: 2024 SHTA Artist of the Year; 2023 Second Place People's choice, US National Snow Sculpting Championship; 2022 2nd Place Best in Show, Disney+; 2022 3rd Place & Artist choice, Minnesota State snow Sculpting Competition; 2021 People's Choice Award, St. Paul Winter Carnival Snow & Ice Park; 2020 Best in Show & People's Choice Award, St. Paul Art Collective Juried Member Exhibition; 2019 Best in show Indigenous Artist Exhibition Landmark Gallery; 2019 1st Place Grand champions, US National snow Sculpting championship; 2016 1st Place & Artist choice, Minnesota State snow Sculpting competition; 2014 3rd Place, Minnesota State snow Sculpting competition

Achievements: 2021 opened Friedli Gallery in St. Paul MN-a gallery to promote indigenous artists