Jason LaClair

LaClair stands as a prominent figure in the Pacific Northwest art scene, drawing from his Lummi and Nooksack heritage to create powerful works that honor his ancestors while speaking to contemporary audiences. As a lifelong resident of Whatcom County, LaClair has spent nearly three decades developing his distinctive Coast Salish artistic style, transforming from a self-taught artist selling door-to-door prints to becoming one of the region's most sought-after muralists and cultural educators.

Early Life and Artistic Journey

Born in June 1983 to Karen (Cook) James of the Nooksack Tribe and Wilbert Paul LaClair of the Lummi Nation, Jason LaClair was immersed in artistic tradition from his earliest years. His Grandparents are John and Harriet (Sparrow) Cook on his mom's side and Helen (Lane) and Cyril Smokey LaClair of Lummi. Growing up surrounded by master carvers and Coast Salish artists, including his father, his uncle who was a master carver, and his next-door neighbor George from Nooksack, LaClair found his calling early. "I remember being six years old and walking up to George as he was carving this massive pole, and telling him, 'Hey, I want to learn that.'"

LaClair's dedication to his craft was evident from childhood. During this new stage of his career, LaClair had a conversation that reminded him that he's right where he's supposed to be. "An old friend of mine from school said, 'It's crazy—you're doing everything you said you wanted to when we were kids.' He said that when we were in third grade our teacher asked as what we wanted to be," LaClair recounts "Some people said firefighter [or] cop. I said I want to be a Coast Salish artist."

Starting at age nine, LaClair began studying other artists' work and practicing shapes on his own. By fourteen, he was creating complete designs. "I won a logo contest for the Lummi Nation when I was 15 years old," he recalls. For many years, he supported himself by creating digital prints and originals with pencils and Sharpie pens, which he would then clean up in Photoshop and sell door-to-door as inkjet prints.

Artistic Evolution and Style

LaClair's artistic journey represents a conscious return to his cultural roots. While he practiced Northern Formline Art for many years, Recently, out of necessity to represent his people in the true style of this beautiful coast Salish territory, Jason began to learn and practice the designs of his coast Salish ancestors/people. This transformation, which occurred about five years ago, was driven by his desire to authentically represent his people in the true Coast Salish style of the territory.

His work is characterized by a simple yet deliberate style with linear designs that were used for spindle whorls and expressions of spirituality. LaClair's art seamlessly blends traditional Coast Salish elements with contemporary sensibilities, creating pieces that resonate with both Indigenous communities and broader audiences.

Major Public Art Installations

The Salmon Run Mural (2021)

One of LaClair's most visible works is the "Salmon Run" mural on North Forest Street in downtown Bellingham. This 750-foot mural transformed a featureless grey retaining wall into a vibrant stream of blues with bright salmon swimming alongside passing traffic. "We didn't use any overhead projectors or anything like that, we just used a grid and did it freehand with spray paint cans." This mural marked a significant milestone in LaClair's career, representing his first major public art installation and the beginning of what he sees as many more to come.

School Murals and Educational Partnerships

LaClair has created several impactful murals in educational settings throughout Whatcom County:

Happy Valley Elementary "Salmon Egg" Mural (2022): This Coast Salish-style salmon egg adorns a staircase wall at Happy Valley Elementary. The project, titled Skwe-shun-ut (Protecting Our Way of Life), was created as part of the school's implementation of the Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State curriculum. "What's really important right now is protecting the Salmon People and of course the natural resources," LaClair said. "Because if we don't, then it's not going to be around for future generations."

Whatcom Intergenerational High School "Generations" Mural (2022): the 2022 Whatcom Intergenerational High School "Generations" Mural represents LaClair's commitment to intergenerational learning and cultural transmission.

Other Notable Works

• "One from the Heart" and Thunderbird murals at Pioneer Park in Ferndale (2021) Stroll Through the Outdoor Art of Whatcom County
• Boardmill Building Murals at the Port of Bellingham's central waterfront redevelopment
• Coast Salish Spindle Whorl Mural at Bellingham Public Library (completed August 22, 2022)
• Salmon Mural at Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (2022)
• Original Coast Salish designs for San Juan Islands National Historical Park
• The Salmon Run Mural on North Forest Street in Bellingham - a 720-foot featuring salmon and orca swimming upstream City of BellinghamKing5
• Educational murals at Happy Valley Elementary ("Salmon Egg" mural, 2022) and Whatcom Intergenerational High School ("Generations" mural, 2022) Bellingham PromisePaper Whale
• First Indigeversal collaborative mural with Savannah LeCornu, Free Borsey among other artists at Waypoint Park, Bellingham, WA
• A mural at Northwest Indian College's Native Environmental Science building depicting salmon and heron (2024) Lummi Artist Jason LaClair Unveils New Mural in Science Building - Northwest Indian College -
• Graphic panels at San Juan Island National Historical Park featuring salmon, Thunderbird, and welcoming hands 'We are here and we are strong' — Buffalo’s Fire
• The QwotQwem installation at Hotel Leo, featuring a ceremonial story pole he completed for elder Samuel Cagey Jr. Cascadia DailyBellingham
• Nooksack Community Center Murals 2024
• "Our Hearts Beat as One" book illustrations Julie Trimingham and Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley 2023
• First metal fabricated newly installed sculpture at the Northwest Indian College Library for Vine Deloria Jr. Symposium May 2025

Exhibitions

Jason's art has been featured in Native Arts 360 group exhibitions that included master carver Felix Solomon, Ralph Bennet, Copper Canoe Woman, Carly Feddersen, Shana Yellow Calf, Maddy Flowers and Cyaltsa Finkbonner, in 2021 and 2022 at Allied Arts of Whatcom County gallery in Bellingham, WA.

LaClair has been featured prominently at Allied Arts of Whatcom County, most notably in the exhibition "Heritage in Motion," an exhibition of local Indigenous artists who masterfully weave traditional influences with contemporary vision. Featuring Jason LaClair, Michelle DeAsis, and Dionisio "Nish" Romero, this powerful showcase celebrates the living, breathing nature of Native artistry while highlighting the distinct voices shaping today's cultural landscape. The exhibition had its opening reception in January 2025 at Allied Arts' new gallery location at 1213 Cornwall Avenue.

LaClair also participated in the Whatcom READS Art Challenge, in collaboration with the Bellingham and Whatcom Libraries' Whatcom READS program, where artists created works inspired by Sasha taqwšeblu LaPointe's "Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk," with each artist bringing their unique perspective to reflect their own personal legacy.

Story Pole Carving at Hotel Leo

In 2023, LaClair undertook his first carving project, finishing a ceremonial story pole originally begun by Samuel Cagey, Jr., a carver and Lummi tribal elder. The project, displayed at Hotel Leo as part of "QwotQwem" (meaning "noisy waters" in Xwlemi Chosen), represents LaClair's expansion into three-dimensional work. "Samuel is one of our spiritual leaders, so seeing something like this through is huge for him," LaClair said of his predecessor.

Educational and Community Impact

Beyond creating art, LaClair is deeply committed to education and community engagement. His partnership with Allied Arts has enabled him to work directly with students in Whatcom County schools. "It makes it more of a personal connection and I feel like kids can learn easier," LaClair said of the ability to work with students in the classroom. "Learning out of books is all right, but learning straight from the artist – and to learn about the community they live in, to learn of the history of this area, and to know they should feel comfortable asking me any question. Because that's how we get to know each other as a community."

LaClair has also created numerous business logos for companies throughout Whatcom County, including work for Lummi and Nooksack vocational rehabilitation centers and various tribal entities, demonstrating his versatility as a commercial artist while maintaining his cultural aesthetic.

Vision for the Future

LaClair envisions a Whatcom County filled with Coast Salish art that honors his ancestors and the land they lived on. His dream extends beyond personal success to uplifting other artists. He also wants to bring other artists with him, working as a middleman that introduces artists to the waiting world.

His philosophy is grounded in daily practice and faith. Estitem'sen is a Lummi word for "I'm doing my best." I start off every day with that. I just do the best I can for that day. I just tell myself to trust that the Creator is going to put me where I need to be.

Legacy and Recognition

Jason LaClair's work represents more than artistic expression; it serves as a bridge between ancient traditions and contemporary life. Yeah, it's such a cool thing, an honor, to be able to represent my people and my ancestors by creating art and sharing visions. What makes me feel really good is the human connection, how different communities, people from multiple backgrounds, get the same feeling when they look at a mural.

Through his murals, exhibitions, educational partnerships, and community engagement, LaClair has established himself as a vital voice in Pacific Northwest Indigenous art. His journey from a nine-year-old studying art books to becoming one of the region's most prominent Coast Salish artists demonstrates the power of cultural preservation through contemporary expression. As he continues to create works that honor his heritage while speaking to modern audiences, Jason LaClair embodies the living, breathing nature of Coast Salish artistry in the 21st century.