C. Sleeper Art

06/09/2025

My clan sister Nicci and I had a blast learning how to make Indigenous-inspired pine needle baskets from Tina Becker today! She learned this endangered Indigenous craft form during a college Native American Studies class back in day. Truly, she's become master weaver and has turned a practical craft into an artform.

Tina's gorgeous pine needle baskets are currently for sale at Global Village in Downtown Billings Montana! She's planning on having classes again soon so keep an eye out.

This is a super fun low cost craft that creates a sustainable art piece and preserves North American Indigenous history.

Thank you, Tina, for helping keep this Indigenous craft alive. Love you dearly and I appreciate your art so much! 💜 🌻

05/28/2025

05/19/2025

I wasn't sure about my next art project but inspiration came tonight! 🥰🌈 I've been in a creative lull. Such is an artists life!

This is a leather Vermont Ledger Book from 1903. The ones with blank pages are rare and pricey.
I'm going to make contemporary Two Spirit ledger art on this paper. 🌈 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🌈

Thank you to Rainbow Coffee House for the beautiful thank you gift and card. I cried happy tears when I received this incredibly meaningful antique ledger book. It was a honor teaching the Rainbow Kiddos about our regional Two Spirit history and the significance of ledger art.

Historical ledger art has been incredibly important in preserving Indigenous histories. 🥰🌈 Including our Two Spirit histories.

Crow Badé (Two Spirit) Warrior
"Osh Tisch" Information:
https://www.makingqueerhistory.com/articles/2019/4/29/osh-tisch-the-warrior

"Rainbow Coffee House is a weekly drop-in group that meets on Thursday nights from 5:30pm - 7:30pm for Youth in 7th - 12th grade who identify as LGBTQIA+ or are a trusted ally!

RCH is a non-denominational, apolitical organization that is hosted at Grace United Methodist Church in Billings Montana."

Rainbow Coffee House Website:
https://www.rchbillings.org/

Ledger Art Information:
https://www.mpm.edu/research-collections/anthropology/online-collections-research/ledger-art-collection

04/25/2025

Taught the Rainbow kiddos some Montana dinosaur history, Indigenous storytelling history, Crow Two Spirit history. And then they painted their own Pride flag dinos or whatever they wanted.

Fantastic time teaching this class! There were 2 Two Spirits, one Crow so yay! Taught them our history. So happy!
🥰🦕🌈💜🌈💜🌈💜🌈🦖🥰

03/17/2025

I haven't done much art making after the Dec 2024 ArtWalk so there hasn't been anything to update. Spring has me inspired!

Today, I played around some with a new color. My favorite color actually! 💜 I did find time to write a poem a couple weeks ago too. Also created my first ceremonial red paint piece. (NFS) I'll post the video of that process.

Not sure if and when I'll sell prints again. I think for now, I'm just going to play around and not put so much pressure on myself...like I tend to do.

My Love has a t-shirt print design in mind so perhaps the next thing I'll be experimenting with are t-shirts? I'll do this first one and see how it goes. She was adorable in thinking she had to pay me to do it.

As you wish, my Love. 💋😘

11/29/2024

Here is the map for ArtWalk next Friday, December 6th 5-9pm

11/29/2024

Coinciding with the Downtown Billings Holiday Stroll here’s information about the Yellowstone Art Museum WinterFair and bookstore December Billings Artwalk artists! All taking place Friday December 6th, 2024.

ArtWalk 2024 Featuring multi-disciplinary artist Charlene “Charli” Sleeper (Southern Cheyenne & Arapahoe/Crow/Chippewa Cree), Bía Shíile Designs by Marie Vogel (Crow) and music by guitarist Charlie Smillie at Barjon's Books 223 N. 29th St.

ArtWalk 2024 Featuring Photographer & Poet Shirley Marin (Totonaca) at This House of Books 116 N. 29th St.

Wild Wares Collaborative Art Market Friday 5-9 P.M. and Saturday 10-4 P.M. organized by SustainaBillings founder Katie Harrison & 2024 YAM Writer-in-Residence Anne Holub at Yesteryears Antique Mall 208 N. Broadway

Also, be sure to hit up our friends at the YAM WinterFair Arts and Crafts Market 11 AM to 8 PM at the Yellowstone Art Museum 401 N. 27th St.

11/29/2024

11/23/2024

So freaking proud of my friends. SO FREAKING PROUD!

On our way to the NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS!!

11/23/2024

Yay!!! It's almost time!!

Barjon's Books
Friday, December 6th 5-9pm
223 N 29th Street
Charlene “Charli” Sleeper is a Crow, Chippewa-Cree, Southern Cheyenne & Arapahoe self taught Two Spirit artist from Montana. Their Indigenous name is “Axpe Hisshe Bia” which means “Red Eagle Fan Woman”. It was given to them by their mother before their fourth Sundance ceremony.
Charli has long admired folk art because it tells a cultural narrative. Their first artistic passion is writing, more specifically poetry. To them, folk art is a form of visual poetry free from the constraints of the fine art world. Folk artists, akin to outsider artists, tend to buck fine art world expectations which gives them a sort of freedom in expressing their cultural identities.
“My acrylic art paintings are a combination of Indigenous beadwork and ledger art motifs done in a folk-art style. There are strong spiritual influences and symbolism in all of my pieces. Many of my pieces have a Two Spirit love theme or were created as a grief healing process.”