“Salish Woman – September 4, 1805” by Richard Vernon Greeves is a striking bronze bust that centers the gaze of a Salish woman with quiet authority and sculptural precision. Her face is poised and forward, not demure—braided hair and circular earrings frame her expression, while her upward gaze defies passivity.

The work references a historic moment during the Lewis and Clark expedition, when the Corps of Discovery first encountered the Salish people in present-day Montana. Yet Greeves resists telling the story through the lens of those who wrote it down. Instead, he carves presence, pride, and inner clarity into every contour.

This isn’t just a portrait—it’s a declaration. The sculpture speaks of lineage, of matriarchal strength, of cultural integrity that has endured beyond conquest and documentation. Minimalist in posture but rich in symbolism, the bust stands as a counterbalance to centuries of misrepresentation