Fritz Scholder, a "non-Indian Indian", created works of art that moved past the stereotypes and romanticized versions of history. Instead, he presented Native Americans engaged in contemporary life, often using a Pop art style.
Treasures from the Vault: Wendy Red Star
Wendy Red Star creates familiar images and scenes of contemporary Native American life, often focused on the reservation, that displace the various misconceptions and stereotypes about her community.
Treasures from the Vault: Marie Watt
Sculptor and printmaker Marie Watt uses blankets as a means of expressing both the female experience and her Native American culture.
Treasures from the Vault: Jaune Quick-to-See Smith
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith defied expectations of Native American artists to work in pottery or weaving by choosing to create paintings and prints. Read on to learn more about her and her prolific career.
Treasures from the Vault: Matika Wilbur
Not all treasures from the vault are works of art from our historical past! Matika Wilbur began her ongoing photography project in 2012. Documenting contemporary Native American tribes and cultures, Wilbur hopes to dispel the often inaccurate and stereotypical visuals of Native Americans pervasive in books, movies, and TV. Lauren Wolfer, Associate Curator of Special Collections & Archives, highlights our most recent acquisition from her project, now on view in A Year of Making Meaning.