Contemporary Native Art 101

Contemporary Native Art 101 is a survey of contemporary Native art from the mid-to-late 19th century to today. Contemporary art is defined as art that is being created now and its origins are in modern art, which began around the 1860s to the 1960s. 

Native art has been transitioning for hundreds of years now and many art historians consider the mid-19th century as the beginning of Native modernism with the innovation of Ledger Art or Ledger Style.

The 20th century saw developments in Native American art in painting, sculpture, prints, installations, and other multi-media that reflect Native peoples’ ability to adapt and maintain. These developments are rooted in the customary art traditions of Native peoples as established in painting murals, pottery, and hides. Native modernism, in particularly, Native art history, is evolving before our very eyes.

Credit: Overview from museum website