Paul Goodbear (Chief Flying Eagle) (Cheyenne, 1913-1954), "Cheyenne Eagle Dance,” 1941, silkscreen on board. OSU Museum of Art, Gift of Charles Little, 2021.011.227

New Native American art exhibition now on view at OSU Museum of Art

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Media Contact: Casey Ihde | OSU Museum of Art | 405-744-2777 | casey.pankey@okstate.edu

“Community, Creativity, and Continuity: Native American Art in Everyday Life” is now onview through Aug. 23 at the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art.

The exhibition features art spanning from 1940-1990, highlighting Native American cultural practices and how those practices blended into their daily lives. The artworks call attention to the importance of those practices and how they’ve remained prominent in the face of cultural assimilation.

Ladan Abdolahipourbadizi, Hilary Luke De-Heer, Lou Gilreath, Audrey Hatch, Sam Holguin Tarrant, Kirtika Khanal, Mya Montonati, Angela Velasquez Garcia de los Salmones and April VeVea curated the exhibition as part of the museum exhibition course at OSU.

As part of the exhibition process, students selected the pieces to be on display and conducted research to inform viewers of the significance and deeper meaning hidden in the selections.

Joan Stone Hansen (Cherokee, b. 1945), "Native Male Painting Outdoors," 1967, tempera on paper. OSU Museum of Art, Gift of Charles Little, 2021.011.811

Guest curator Amber DuBoise-Shepherd (Diné | Prairie Band Potawatomi | Sac & Fox) provided additional expertise and insight during the process. Guiding the semester-long project were faculty curators Rebecca P. Brienen, associate dean for personnel and faculty development for the College of Arts and Sciences, and professor of art history, along with Karen Greenwalt, assistant professor of art history.

The exhibition features works donated by Charles Little, many of which are on display for the first time.

A common misconception about works highlighting past traditions is that they are no longer a leading part of people’s lives. This exhibition shows that this is not the case.

Many of the practices portrayed in the works on display are still an integral part of so many people’s daily lives. The cultural practices mentioned in this exhibition tie back to past generations, and they emphasize the importance of community, creativity, and continuity in the daily lives of Native Americans to this day.

“Community, Creativity, and Continuity: Native American Art in Everyday Life” is on view through Aug. 23. Learn more at the website.