Linus Woods is a Dakota/ Ojibway artist from the Long Plain First Nation in Southern Manitoba where he was born in 1967. Linus is largely self-taught but has taken art and Native studies courses at Brandon University and has also studied with artists such as Jane Ash Poitras. He sees his paintings as expressions and extensions of his spiritual journey. His work is based on the oral traditions, dreams, stories and legends of his ancestors that he approaches with his own humour. He is also profoundly influenced by nature and his surroundings on the Long Plains Reserve.

Linus brings his images to life using mixed media, mainly acrylics and oils in layered compositions. As such Linus’ works evoke memories of the past yet reflect current political and cultural Aboriginal issues.

Linus Woods is a winner of the Peace Hills Trust Company Art Competition and in 2003 was one of seven artists chosen for the Image Makers First Nation Art Exhibit in Los Angeles. Most recently, in 2010, his work was included in Close Encounters: The Next 500 Years exhibition of contemporary indigenous art organized by the Winnipeg Art Gallery that features premier indigenous artists from Canada (Brian Jungen, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun and Inuit artist Shuvinai Ashoona for example) and from around the world (New Zealand, the U.S., South America, Europe and Australia).

In addition to private collections in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, Wood’s work can also be found at Brandon University, The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Arrowhead Corp., The Government of Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg, and the Peace Hills Trust.