Justin Beatty is a multi-disciplinary artist of Native American (Ojibwe, Saponi) & African-American descent. He holds a B.A. from UMass-Amherst with a concentration in Indigenous Policy, Culture, & Art, a self-created interdisciplinary curriculum. Justin's visual artwork includes digital art, drawing, painting, & clothing. Much of his visual art is dedicated to a deeper look at cultural, political, spiritual, and social issues affecting Native American & First Nations people. The works frequently alternate between challenging the stereotypes of Indigenous people as relics of the past, creating new images around traditional symbology, & exploring tropes, misconceptions, & erroneous beliefs about Indigenous people in N. America & the Caribbean. His work has been featured in "Boundless" at the Mead Art Museum including a permanent installation outside the museum, the Town of Athol's "Windows on Main" installation, & 50 Arrow Gallery, & Urbana Art Studio.
A well-known Native American intertribal powwow singer in New England and founding member of Urban Thunder, a powwow drum group for which he is drum-keeper & lead singer. Urban Thunder has been host drum at various powwows including Harvard, UMass-Amherst, North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB), UMass-Boston, and the Mass Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA). They have also been featured in the movie "Crooked Arrows" & the video game "BioShock: Infinite". Justin also sings with the Iron River Singers, Rez Dogs, & on occasion with the Mystic River Singers.
As a cultural educator, Justin does presentations at schools & organizations across New England. He emcees numerous powwows & cultural events such as powwows for the Aquinnah Wampanoag, Nipmuc Nation, UMass-Amherst & UMass-Boston, Brown University, UNH, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum & many others. He has given talks & lectures, moderated, & participated in panel discussions at Mt. Holyoke, UMass-Amherst, Northfield-Mount Hermon, Smith, Springfield Coll., BSU, AIC, Connecticut Coll., Native American Lifelines, Connecticut River Conservancy & for the Mohegan Tribe.
Justin worked at Truelements Music with DJ/Producer JPeriod on projects for The Roots, The Isley Brothers, Mary J. Blige, the Rock Steady Crew, & others. He was the DJ & backing vocalist for NewMerika & had songs featured on TV shows, documentaries, & the sizzle reel of director Naheem Adio.
