Giinawind Gallery

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Artist Bio Eliza Klarer is an indigenous artist raised on the White Earth Reservation. The intricacies of the rural wilderness inspire her detailed artworks. Carrying on the teachings of her late grandmother, Judy Toppings, Eliza went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota Morris in the Spring of 2024; majoring in Studio Art with a focus on ceramics and painting. Since returning to her hometown she has reconnected with her roots in traditional woodland pottery by leading classes with her mother, Janet Klarer. They both serve on the board of the young non-profit, Manoomin Arts Initiative. In 2025 and 2026, Eliza is apprenticing under Rick Kagigebi, an indigenous blanket maker whose mural blankets tell a story with meaning behind every element. Rick and Eliza will be displaying their blankets in 2026 at Gizhiigan Arts Incubator (Mahnomen, MN) and MacRostie. In addition to her plans for 2026, Eliza is working with Springboard for the Arts under the Weaving Social Connections project; where she will lead art activities in Detroit Lakes with MAHUBE-OTWA in order to defy isolation and build community connections. Eliza’s first solo exhibition was recently showcased in Watermark Art Center’s Miikanan Gallery in Bemidji, MN in 2025, displaying the vast range of media in which she works. This body of work was mainly completed during her time at UMM, where she explored themes of disarray and appreciation for the natural world. By including works created by her family, she honors the legacy of her grandmother who worked to bring the lost art of traditional woodland pottery back to life.