Pat Kruse was born in Oakland, California, is a member at Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, and a descendent of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Onamia, Minnesota.  An accomplished and awarding winning Ojibwe birchbark & quillwork artist & culture teacher. Pat has spent his life maintaining traditional Ojibwe basketry and teaching workshops to all people willing to learn. 

 

Pat's art is in collections and at various locations, which include: Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art: Kansas City, MO; Plains Art Museum-Fargo, ND; Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota-Duluth, MN; Minnesota Historical Society-St. Paul, MN; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewas, Legendary Waters Resort and Casino-Red Cliff, WI; Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Onamia, MN; Mayo Clinic-Rochester, MN; and Science Museum of Minnesota-St Paul, MN.

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In 2015-2016 Pat was chosen for Native Artist In Residence, Minnesota Historical Society; St. Paul, MN; 2016 Native Arts and Culture Foundation Fellowship, Native Arts and Culture Foundation; Vancouver, WA

 

In 2018, Pat was one of eight accomplished artists awarded the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Mentor Artist Fellowship.