Denver Art Museum to Host Triennial Symposium for Native Arts

Expanded two-day symposium, Indigenous Art Without Borders: Moving Forward in Every Direction, celebrates 100 years of Native Arts collecting at the DAM

DENVER–September 25, 2025–The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is pleased to announce its upcoming Triennial Symposium for Native Arts, a two-day event featuring a dynamic lineup of artists, scholars and experts. The symposium, titled Indigenous Art Without Borders: Moving Forward in Every Direction, will take place October 29-30, 2025, in the museum’s Sharp Auditorium.

This year’s symposium marks the centennial anniversary of the DAM's Native Arts Department. The event will explore the past, present and future of Indigenous arts and representation in museums and global contexts. Participants will engage in panel sessions, Q&A discussions and a keynote speaker presentation designed to foster professional networking and idea exchange.

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Native Arts Department with our upcoming Triennial Symposium. This event is a testament to the powerful, ongoing relationships we have built with Indigenous communities over the past century,” said John P. Lukavic, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Native Arts at the Denver Art Museum. “DAM has long been a platform for Indigenous voices to lead conversations on critical topics, from the history of collecting to the global work of contemporary artists today. This symposium is a moment of deep reflection and a forward-looking commitment to our shared future. We are dedicated to ensuring the Denver Art Museum remains a place where Indigenous art and voices are not only seen and heard but are centered and celebrated for generations to come."

Discussions will cover a range of topics, including the history and future of Indigenous art collecting, the evolution of the DAM’s commitment to Indigenous communities and the global work of contemporary Indigenous artists. The symposium will also delve into themes of collaboration, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) relationships, community engagement, elevating Native North American voices in global artistic conversations, as well as changing curatorial practice to increase indigenous representation in museum collections.

Event Details

Dates: October 29, 2025 (9 am–4:30 pm) and October 30, 2025 (9 am–12:30 pm)

Location: Sharp Auditorium, Hamilton Building, Lower Level, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave Pkwy.

Tickets: A ticket is required for entry; tickets for in-person attendance and virtual tickets can be purchased via DAM’s website. DAM members receive a discount, and students with a valid ID can attend for free

Symposium Schedule

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

  • 9:00-9:30 am: Coffee Service
  • 9:30-9:45 am: Opening Remarks - John P. Lukavic
  • 9:45-10:30 am: Keynote - Wayne Modest
  • 10:30-10:45 am: Break
  • 10:45-11:45 am: Session I: Looking Back, Looking Forward - A review of the past 100 years and a projection of the next 100 years for Native Arts collecting and curatorial practices.
    • Panelists: John P. Lukavic, Jami C. Powell, Dakota Hoska
  • 11:45 am-1:00 pm: Session II: Global Indigeneity in Focus - What global indigeneity means and how people might unite under this term.
    • Panelists: Jordan Poorman Crocker, Maia Nuku, Ji Young Park, Victoria Lyall, Kássia Borges Mytara
  • 1:00-2:30 pm: Lunch
  • 2:30-3:30 pm: Session III: Spotlight on Collaboration - How can arts institutions achieve greater interaction with Indigenous communities and artists?
    • Panelists: Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Cannupa Hanska Luger, John P. Lukavic, Wayne Modest
  • 3:30-4:30 pm: Session IV: Floor to Floor: Global Indigeneity in Practice at the Denver Art Museum - Cross-departmental collaboration and changing curatorial practices to increase Indigenous representation across collections.
    • Panelists: Rory Padeken, Raphael Fonseca, Syokau Mutong

Thursday, October 30, 2025

  • 9:00-9:30 am: Coffee Service
  • 9:30-10:30 am: Session V: Curating Contemporary - How museums and Native artists respond to the growing interest in Indigenous contemporary arts and Native futurism.
    • Panelists: Rory Padeken, Jordan Poorman Crocker, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Kássia Borges Mytara
  • 10:30-10:45 am: Break
  • 10:45 am-12:00 pm: Session VI: Futures Imagined - A discussion of what we have learned and what is next.
    • Panelists: John P. Lukavic (moderator), Wayne Modest, Maia Nuku, Jordan Poorman Cocker, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Kássia Borges Mytara, Dakota Hoska
  • 12:00-12:30 pm: Q&A and Closing Remarks

Featured Speakers

  • Dr. Maia Nuku (English and Māori), Curator of Oceanic Art, Met Museum / New York, USA
  • Dr. Wayne Modest (Keynote speaker), Director of Content, National Museum of World Cultures / Netherlands, Europe
  • Dr. Kássia Borges Mytara (Karajá), Associate Curator, São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) / Brazil
  • Dr. Jordan Poorman Cocker (Kiowa and Tongan), Assistant Curator, Crystal Bridges / Arkansas, USA
  • Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, and European), Artist / New Mexico, USA
  • Dr. Jessa Rae Growing Thunder (Fort Peck Assiniboine, Dakota), Artist and Art Historian / New Mexico, USA
  • Dakota Hoska (Lakota), Inaugural Curator of Native Arts, National Gallery / Washington D.C., USA
  • Dr. Jami C. Powell (Osage), Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs, Curator of Indigenous Art, Hood Museum / Hanover, NH
  • Dr. John Lukavic, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum / Denver, CO
  • Ji Young Park, NMK Fellow of Korean Art, Denver Art Museum / Denver, CO
  • Dr. Raphael Fonseca, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art, Denver Art Musem / Denver, CO
  • Rory Padeken, Vicki and Kent Logan Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Denver Art Musem / Denver, CO
  • Dr. Victoria Lyall, Frederick and Jan Mayer Curator, Art of the Ancient Americas, Denver Art Museum / Denver, CO

This event is supported by the Terra Foundation of American Art and made possible by the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

Planning Your Visit

The most up-to-date information on planning a visit to the Denver Art Museum can be found online under the Plan Your Visit tab. Use this page to find details on ticket pricing, public transit options and access information. General admission for museum members is free every day. Youth aged 18 and under receive free general admission everyday thanks to the museum’s Free for Kids program. Free for Kids also underwrites free admission for school and youth group visits.

About the Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Metro area residents support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. For museum information, call 720-865-5000 or visit www.denverartmuseum.org.

Media Resources

Media Contacts

Andy Sinclair/Press Office
Denver Art Museum
720-913-0096/719-761-9390
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pressoffice@denverartmuseum.org