Billy Logan Biography

Native American woodcarving artist Billy Logan, through his wood sculptures, is on a vision quest to connect with his robust turtle Island roots. His recent works are heavily influenced by his Eastern Woodlands (3000 BCE) antecedents through research of artifacts ranging from the early Owasco age (circa 1000 CE-1400 CE) through the early 20th century. Infusing a blend of traditional and modern tools and techniques. He creates salient imagery with a profound historical backdrop to captivate the observer with his sublime visions of antiquity through his contemporary sculptures.  

The beginning of Billy’s artistic and spiritual journey started with the lessons of his mother. He was taught the fundamentals of the Haudenosaunee culture and shared her Onondaga, turtle clan Longhouse religion. Both of Billy’s parents were Native American Residential school survivors from the Thomas Asylum of Orphan and Destitute Indian Children on the Cattaraugus Territory in Irving, New York, where they were forbidden to practice their cultural and religious beliefs. Since his parents were not allowed to express their cultural beliefs, he feels obligated to resound their voices through his works.  

In the 1980’s, Billy moved to the Lower East Side (LES) in New York City. There he found comfort in the LES art and music scene which inspired artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring. In addition, he became a carpenter and stagehand working several years in theater at stagecraft further teaching himself to wood carve and create pen & ink drawings.  

In the nineties and early 2000’s, Billy started participating in art shows in Western New York. He was chosen to complete several pieces for the Burchfield Penney Art Center’s public art incentives Herd About Buffalo, Art on Wheels, and The Pan-American Exposition Centennial: Images of the American Indian.  

After a successful career in the Indian Gaming and the Banking Industry, Billy decided to reconnect with his artistic and spiritual journey and establish Billy Logan Art LLC. This will further continue to assist in cultivating his artistic vison quest, his connection to his Eastern Woodlands heritage, and promote creating works of “Orenda” to bring fresh Native American contemporary art to a new audience.