Artist Holly Young was born and raised by her grandmother in a rural area of the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota; an upbringing that is unmistakably woven into her work. Within the warp and weft, are the memories of the land she grew up on and the traditions passed through generations. In her 2020 interview with the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Young recollects, “[Flowers] are like these imprints of my life. Memories of my grandmother, walking the land: her gardens, how she tended them…They’ve come to mean so much more to me.  It’s a feeling, a journey, and it’s healing”

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Using beads, quills, and ledgers, and a traditional approach and application of Dakota floral motifs, Young uses art as a means of preserving the stories and traditions of the Dakota people.  Through her diverse artistic talents, Young builds a visual autobiography; one of love, patience, resiliency, and the beauty of her ancestors while highlighting the gifts of the Earth. 

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Building upon her devotion to storytelling, Young has created several murals that can be found in her hometown of Fort Yates, ND and throughout Minnesota.  Through workshops, community conversations, and mentoring, Young's commitment to preserving tradition continues to inspire and resonate within her community and beyond.