Santa Fe Indian School Style: Works on Paper

The exhibition focuses on the history of Native American painting, the development of a distinct style associated with Native American artists in the early 1900s, the institutionalization of this style at the Santa Fe Indian School, departures from the school’s stylistic conventions by famous alumni, and its continuing legacy with current students at the Santa Fe Indian School. Although Native American artists have been painting on a variety of surfaces for centuries, the exhibition is limited to works on paper and begins with examples of Plains-style ledger drawings from the late nineteenth century. 

The exhibition features work by Julian Martinez, Awa Tsireh, Tonita Peña, Acee Blue Eagle, Lois Smoky of the Kiowa Six, Fred Kabotie, Pop Chalee, Allan Houser, Eva Mirabal, Geronima Cruz Montoya, Quincy Tahoma, Joe Hilario Herrera, Harrison Begay, Andy Tsinahjinnie, Pablita Velarde, and Helen Hardin. 

As part of the museum’s mission of sharing and celebrating the arts and cultures of the Southwest, this exhibition makes an expansive collection of paintings from the museum’s archive available to the public for the first time. The museum also strives to continue the legacies of its namesake and founder by supporting the local communities and artistic traditions represented in the permanent collection. As a result, the Millicent Rogers Museum is collaborating with Art Palacios, the current Visual Arts Director at the Santa Fe Indian School. Throughout the duration of the show, the exhibition will highlight a new work each month by current students of the Santa Fe Indian School. According to Palacios, the students are thrilled to have their work exhibited next to famous artists. Caroline Jean Fernald, the Millicent Rogers Museum’s Executive Director, is equally excited to feature the work of talented artists, both past and present, from the Santa Fe Indian School.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website