Koop featured artist at Northern's office of diversity

Press release

"Two Indians Riding Horses" by Teddy Koop is the featured artwork this month in Montana State University-Northern's Office of Diversity and Multicultural Awareness

"My preferred media is acrylic paint," Koop said. "I can paint on pottery or stained glass ... in this case, I painted on a cow skull ... I like to paint on objects - even skulls and rocks could be free canvases ... I have taken rocks home, cleaned them, and paint on them ... many objects are free canvases on the ground."

This is how Koop refers to his passion of painting on objects.

"Two Indians Riding Horses" is a piece owned by Terry Healy. She received it as a birthday gift and is loaning it for exhibition.

Koop said that he likes to paint primarily wildlife.

"I almost never name a piece," Koop said. "I just signed it with my name."

Koop also works in air brush, carving and sculpture.

Koop had a successful career in law enforcement. He also served in the U.S. Army. In those years he dedicated his time partially to paint, but currently he is able to do it full time.

A few years ago, he won a nationally recognized art contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Department. This contest was geared toward Native American Art.

"I was able to make it to national level," he added.

Koop is a multifaceted individual. He not only paints but also helps represent his people in criminal law cases; he has a degree in teaching and is a talented cook. He lives in the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation with his wife and three children and is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe.

The MSU-N Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs invites local and regional artists to exhibit their pieces, preferably those that have some link to multicultural themes. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 265-3589.