Philbrook Museum of Art

The Philbrook Museum of Art will present this fall “Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists,” the first major traveling exhibition exclusively devoted to Native women artists from all over the United States and Canada, ranging across time and media. 

As previously reported, the exhibit is organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and developed in close cooperation with leading Native artists and scholars. The show offers multiple perspectives to enhance understanding of Native art practices and the role of women in Native communities, according to a news release.

“Hearts of Our People” will be on view in the Helmerich Gallery from Oct. 7 through Jan. 3, 2021. 

As the primary makers of ceramics, basketry, textiles, and bead- and quillwork in their communities, women have long been the creative force behind Native art; however, their significant cultural influences have often been overlooked.

“Hearts of Our People” helps visitors understand the many contributions of Native women artists not only to the domestic but also to the cultural, diplomatic, economic and religious spheres of their own and other communities. In addition, the exhibit goes beyond the longstanding convention of seeing these artworks as unattributed representations of entire cultures. The thematic organization of the exhibition highlights the intentionality of the artists, regardless of culture or media, focusing on the power of women’s creations across time. 

Read the full article here.