A new look at contemporary Native American art

The New Britain Museum of American Art in Connecticut will host the special exhibition "The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans" from April 19 to Sept. 12. Curated by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, the exhibition will showcase works by nearly 50 living Native artists, reflecting Indigenous perspectives on the land. These artworks span various mediums such as weaving, beadwork, sculpture, painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, performance, and video, representing a diverse range of artistic practices across generations.

Previously exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 24, 2023, to Jan. 15, 2024, this presentation will also feature a series of accompanying programs and events, with details to be announced soon. Additionally, a related book, published by the National Gallery in collaboration with Princeton University Press, will be available for sale, highlighting each artist whose work is displayed.

Brett Abbott, the director and CEO of the New Britain Museum of American Art, expressed gratitude to Jaune Quick-to-See Smith for organizing and sharing this groundbreaking exhibition, as well as to the National Gallery for their partnership and support. Abbott emphasized that "The Land Carries Our Ancestors" focuses on Native stewardship of the natural environment and showcases the cultural and social practices of the remarkable group of artists.

For more details about the exhibition, visit the museum's website.

Image: "Orchestrating a Blooming Desert," 2003, oil on canvas, by Steven Yazzie (Diné/Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico/European descent), from the collection of Christy Vezolles. © 2003 Steven J. Yazzie. All rights reserved and reprinted courtesy of the Heard Museum; photo by Craig Smith