The Buffalo in the American Living Room

Born in Breckenridge, Minnesota in 1937, Fritz Scholder, a member of the Luiseño Tribe of California, was an influential Native American artist who inspired generations of Native American artists with his commentary on the contemporary Native American experience. His style and legacy is reflected in the work of several contemporary Northern Plains Native American artists, many of whom resist simple categorization, defy expectation, and navigate the duality of being Indigenous and a contemporary American artist. The Buffalo in the American Living Room: Fritz Scholder and Contemporary Native Art shares the work of Scholder along with a new generation of Northern Plains artists, highlighting the continuation of this legacy. Contemporary artists featured in the exhibition include John Hitchcock, Wendy Red Star, Star Wallowing Bull, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Dyani White Hawk, Keith BraveHeart, and many others.

Fritz Scholder (1937-2005) was one of the 20th century’s most influential artists. He was the feature of four PBS documentaries, the recipient of five honorary degrees, and the lifetime Societaire of the Salon d’Automne. In December 2009, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger inducted Scholder to the California Hall of Fame. In high school, Scholder studied under Oscar Howe. He went on to earn degrees from Sacramento State College and the University of Arizona. Despite the insistence of collectors and curators during the mid 20th century, Fritz Scholder pushed the boundaries of what Indian art could be. His influence extends to a new generation of young creators who navigate the dual worlds of Native American visual culture and American pop culture.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website