Judd Thompson
“Art is about growth for me, it’s about creating something that hasn’t been made yet! Bringing color to a blank canvas and I pride myself in pushing the limits with my new artwork. Turning something worthless into something timeless. I like dissecting my material and forcing the viewer to find a narrative in each piece. Crows are known for being the best storytellers, vividly describing the world around them. So I naturally find myself telling a story with my art.” —Judd Thompson
Born in 1983, Judd Thompson spent his formative years growing up on the Crow Indian Reservation, gaining inspiration from the art he was surrounded by in his parents' business, The Custer Battlefield Trading Post. Judd draws inspiration from Western artists, especially Joseph Henry Sharp. Judd uses his passion for color theory to capture the essence of Crow Country in a variety of media. After graduating from the University of Wyoming in 2010 with a degree in Art & Art History, Judd moved to Billings, MT where he currently resides.
Available Works
Mixed media with acrylic, spray paint, and prismacolor marker, 2024
36" x 36"
“This painting pays homage to the stoic personality of one of the most respected Crow leaders, Chief Plenty Coups.”
Acrylic on canvas, 2025
72” x 60”
“The vision for this piece comes from the Hudson Bay trading blanket. It was brought to life by a free handed pour and uses no measurements for the paint, just feel.”
Mixed media, spray paint on canvas, 2025
40” x 30”
“This piece was created from a dream, a memory, and photo. It was created to show the audience the beauty of the tipi being lit at night, and make them feel as though they are there experiencing it for themselves.”
Mixed media on canvas, 2025
48” x 60”
“Based on a turn of the century sepia tone photo by Theodore Throstel, this piece is a representation of the use of artistic freedom using different colors to bring the piece to life, mimic the movement of dance, and portray the controlled chaos.”
Mixed Media on Watercolor paper, 2019
10” x 8”
Prismacolor marker and stencil, 2024
40" x 30”
This piece was the first time the artist experimented with prismacolor markers and is truly a turning point in his work. Based on another Throstel photograph, there is a big star on the piece representing when Colorado became a state which is where the Crow were moving through at the time.
Mixed Media, 2022
24” x 48”
This monochromatic take on the feeling of Crow Fair displays all of the tipis, as it is known as the tipi capital of the world. Another turning point in his art, this piece was the start of showing the process of drip work, blending with a more painterly take with the tipis, snowflakes, atmosphere, and moon all coming together in a cohesive way.
Mixed media on canvas, 2021
20” x 24”
This piece was created in a way that leaves the interpretation up to the viewers imagination. There are three riders hidden over the hill in the distance that often get overlooked, or just go completely unseen. It is a reminder of growing up and the tradition of staying in the tipi and looking up at the stars.
An interpretation of “Heaven’s Gate” 1980, directed by Micheal Cimino, watercolor paper, prismacolor marker and watercolor, framed, 2020
16” x 20”
Sold Works
This Judd Thompson and Pendleton Blanket collaboration of “Horse Named Paint” has been featured in Cowgirl Magazine in a beautiful interiors shot.
