Meet Marty

Marty Katon, born and raised in Michigan, spent the majority of his childhood working on a farm with several fellow foster children.

His parents couldn’t care for him and his brother, due to financial problems, so the siblings were taken to live and work on a farm. The foster children were treated like slaves; they slept in the barn and spent the majority of their days working.

Katon found joy and inspiration in working with the animals. He would feed them, bathe them, and heal them when they were sick or hurt. When officials would come to check on him and the other kids, their legal guardians would bring them inside the house and pretend that they were being care for and treated like family.

At age 18, Katon began studying medicine, but to his surprise, was drafted. Katon was sent to Vietnam, where he was discharged after only a few months, after shooting a fellow soldier in the foot for raping a woman.

Katon showed no remorse for his action and said he would shoot anyone else who rapes a woman. He and a friend who also agreed to shoot anyone who admitted to raping a woman were sent to receive psychiatric help, because their mindsets were “not right,” Katon recalled.

Instead of pursuing his dreams of becoming a doctor, Katon decided to become a political rights and animal rights activist.

Civil rights involve ensuring people’s physical and mental integrity, life and safety. They also include protection from the discrimination of race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, and religion.

Katon devoted his time and effort restoring Native American culture. Shortly after his time in Vietnam, he met a Native American man named Stone-Horse. Stone-Horse brought Katon back to his home in Tonawanda. Katon helped Stone-Horse and others who resided in the town get back their rights, along with possessions taken and stored in museums.

The Native American culture heavily influenced Katon in his work and his life. His vision, philosophies, and spirituality, all combine to richly and honestly represent Native American culture and wisdom in his art. “In my paintings, my own heritage comes together,” he said. “I come from Scottish craftsmen, English writers, and traders who married Native Americans. Craftsmanship is important in my work. There are stories in all of my paintings.” The majority of Katon’s artwork involves animals; his love for animals is undeniable. He grew up on a farm, where his task was to tend to the animals, which is why he believes he can so easily paint them.

Katon often rescues animals, both domestic and wild. Along with the Indian artifacts in his studio, a live a rat, hamster, tarantula, and baby raccoon, the latter of which he bottle-feeds.

Instead of using his childhood as an excuse, Katon uses it to help children who also come from disadvantaged backgrounds. He teaches painting to Make-A-Wish and Angel Wings children, YMCA camp children, autistic children, and other children in society who are sometimes forgotten.

With all of time Katon spends with animals and children, it’s almost unbelievable that he also has time to paint every day.

“I paint with oils on linen canvases, I use my hands on the canvas to paint and sometimes a cloth. I use all sorts of brushes. I sometimes use knives to make shapes. I use whatever works.

Katon will use whatever tools are around him when painting, stating that he likes to invent his own techniques. He is passionate about the skies he paints, “The sky tells the story,” he said. Katon (how old is he?) has been painting for almost 50 years and earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. In addition to being a painter, he has been a lumberjack, a Thai kick boxer, an oil painting instructor, a Mexican cave explorer, a common participant in Native American ceremonies, and a professional drummer who toured with many groups.

Galleries that display his work include the Merrill Chase Galleries of Chicago; Joe Wade Gallery of Santa Fe; and the Toledo Museum of Art.

Katon has earned many awards and first place ribbons throughout his years of work. Many Native American nations own and display his paintings, as do many Wild Animal Rescue organizations.