25-Year Sculpture Project Brings Native American Artists Back to Luxembourg

Native American artists Rebecca Grandbois and Shayna Grandbois-Herrera visited Lënster Lycée International School (LLIS) in Junglinster on Thursday 11 June 2026 to share Indigenous cultural traditions with local schoolchildren and continue a sculpture project begun in Luxembourg by the late sculptor Rollie Grandbois in 2001.

Rebecca Grandbois, widow of Rollie Grandbois and mother of Shayna Grandbois-Herrera, explained the significance of the family's return to Luxembourg. Speaking to Chronicle.lu, she said: "We are returning to Luxembourg after 25 years. My husband first came here in 2001 to exhibit his artwork, teach classes and carve a monumental sculpture. After he passed away in 2016, he was unable to return and complete the project. We have worked closely with Carlo Krieger and Marc Zimer to bring this exhibition together, with support from Luxembourg's Ministry of Culture and the Commune of Junglinster.”

Rebecca Grandbois added that the project would culminate with the completion of the sculpture by her daughter, Shayna Grandbois-Herrera, who has been working on it in recent days.

The Grandbois family represents the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Nation. According to the artists, Rollie Grandbois established ties with Luxembourg during his 2001 visit, when he exhibited his work, led workshops and began carving a monumental stone sculpture as part of a cultural exchange initiative.

Following his death in 2016, the sculpture remained unfinished. Twenty-five years after the project began, Shayna Grandbois-Herrera returned to Luxembourg to complete the work started by her father. Once finished, the sculpture is due to be presented to the Municipality of Junglinster as part of a sister-city and cultural exchange project.

During their visit to LLIS, Rebecca Grandbois and Shayna Grandbois-Herrera introduced pupils to Indigenous heritage and artistic traditions through presentations and pottery workshops. The programme also explored the history, symbolism and contemporary practice of Native American art.

Shayna Grandbois-Herrera, a second-generation stone sculptor who learned her craft from her father, presented her family's artistic journey under the title "Finishing What We Started: A Sculpture Story Across 25 Years". The presentation highlighted the role of sculpture in Indigenous culture and the importance of preserving artistic traditions across generations.

The programme culminated in the artists' participation in the 43rd International Arts & Crafts Days in Bourglinster on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026, where they showcased their artwork and demonstrated traditional carving techniques to visitors.

(Caption: Rebecca Grandbois and Shayna Grandbois-Herrera with students of Lënster Lycée International School (LLIS); Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu)