Stylized painting of a row of Hopi Indian dancers in motion
Image Credit

Fritz Scholder (Luiseño), Hopi Dancers (detail), 1974. Lithograph; 22 ¼ x 30 in. Denver Art Museum: Bequest of the Estate of Suzanne W. Joshel, 2009.480. © Estate of Fritz Scholder

Sustained!

The Persistent Genius of Indigenous Art
Now On View

Fritz Scholder (Luiseño), Hopi Dancers (detail), 1974. Lithograph; 22 ¼ x 30 in. Denver Art Museum: Bequest of the Estate of Suzanne W. Joshel, 2009.480. © Estate of Fritz Scholder

Sustained! The Persistent Genius of Indigenous Art explores how Indigenous peoples’ resilience, diversity, and creativity have sustained them throughout time. The exhibition centers Indigenous voices, perspectives, and artistic expressions past and present, and is a celebration of Indigenous contributions to the arts and the museum over the past 100 years.

Sustained! was developed in conjunction with a panel of seven Indigenous community members who, through a series of meetings, shared with the museum’s Native Arts curatorial team what type of exhibition would be meaningful to themselves and their communities. This exhibition combines historic and contemporary works from DAM’s permanent collection to investigate the ways in which Native people have been sustained by beauty, by connections, and by spirituality, tracing these themes through fashion, family, ancestors, and the reasons people gather, such as games, ceremonies, and dance.

Focusing on the great diversity of Indigenous communities across the continent, this exhibition provides insights through objects including a beautiful dress by fashion designer Orlando Dugi (Diné), a pair of Jaatłoh4Ye’iitsoh or Earrings for the Gods by Eric Paul Riege (Diné), a breastplate made from gun shell casings that celebrates food sovereignty and providing for a family crafted by local community member Sid Whiting (Sičháŋǧu Lakȟóta), and a new work by Teri Greeves (Kiowa), among many others.

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Martin Building, Level 3
Included in general admission
Abstract figure of a man wearing a two-headed snake-like hat

Norval Morrisseau (Anishinaabe), Untitled (Snakes), about 1970. Acrylic on paper board; 40 x 32 in. Denver Art Museum: Native Arts acquisition fund, 2010.441. © Norval Morrisseau Estate

Photograph of a young Indigenous woman holding a stick

Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk (Winnebago)), Bela Falcon, 2023. Digital Inkjet Photograph with glass beads, shell beads and rhinestones; 40 in. x 77 in. Denver Art Museum: Funds from the Friends of Native Arts, 2023.193. © Tom Jones

Old photograph of John Gritts, elder citizen of the Cherokee Nation

Will Wilson (Diné), John Gritts, citizen of the Cherokee Nation, member, US Department of Education (2013), Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange, Denver Art Museum, 2013. Tintype photograph; 10 in. x 8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of John Grits, 2013.70. © Will Wilson

Woven colored pattern for an Indigenous bag

Unknown Nez Perce Artist, Bag, 1900s. Corn husk, yarn, rawhide, wool; 17.75” x 13.5”. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Dr. Charles J. Norton, 1986.261.

Indigenous mother and her son and daughter under the sun and in nature

Teri Greeves (Kiowa), Sons of the Sun, 2023. Beads, raw silk, and dye on canvas; 8 ft. x 6 ft. Denver Art Museum: Purchased with the Nancy Blomberg Acquisitions Fund for Native American Art, 2023.777A-E. © Teri Greeves

Blue carved rounded glass pot

Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Killer Whale Crest Hat, 2004. Blown and sand carved glass; 7 1/2 x 17 3/4 in. di. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Polly and Mark Addison, 2012.10. © Preston Singletary

Abstract artwork for a disjointed multi-headed figure

Rick Bartow (Wiyot), Masquerade, 2015. Acrylic on canvas; 73 x 75 1/4 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Loren G. Lipson, M.D., 2018.607. © Rick Bartow

Indigenous woman's garment adorned with patterns and designs

Rhonda Holy Bear (Lakota), Cheyenne doll — Woman in War Honor Dress, 1997. Wood, paint, hide, silver, glass beads, cloth, hair, quills, and shells; 24¾ x 7½ x 5 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Virginia Vogel Mattern, 2003.1303. © Rhonda Holy Bear

Men and women dressed in traditional Indigenous clothing celebrating Powwoww in front of the museum entrance

Our Commitment to Indigenous Communities

The Denver Art Museum is located on the homeland of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute people, along with many people from other Indigenous nations that call this place home. Museums have benefited from the displacement of Indigenous people and the removal and historical misrepresentation of their arts, often resulting in deep harm to originating communities.

While we cannot change the past, we can change how we move forward. Indigenous people have made substantial impacts to our institution, and our identity is innately tied to the Native histories and contributions of Indigenous people past and present. This inspires and grounds us as we move forward in a better way

We commit to:

  • Building authentic and sustained relationships with Indigenous people at multiple touch points across the museum.
  • Centering, elevating, and supporting Indigenous people in our programs and practices and providing meaningful access to our resources including collections, programs, tools, and spaces
  • Actively listening to and integrating Indigenous voices to grow as an inclusive and accessible space.

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Sustained! The Persistent Genius of Indigenous Art is organized by the Denver Art Museum. Support is provided by the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado.