Space Makers: Indigenous Expression and a New American Art

Space Makers: Indigenous Expression and a New American Art explores the intersection between mid-century American art and Indigenous visual culture. It shines a light on the Indian Space Painters and their profound influence on the American art scene, as well as the contributions of the modern Native art movement. The focus also extends to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, founded in 1962 as the only fine arts school in the U.S. for contemporary Native American art. Seymour Tubis, an early IAIA instructor and former Art Students League member, played a crucial role in shaping the practices of many Indigenous artists. Space Makers features loans from the Charles and Valerie Diker collection, showcasing works that exemplify the Indian Space Painting movement. This exhibition provides a deeper understanding of how these artists have reconfigured the history of American art, grounding it in Indigenous aesthetics, geography, and socio-political contexts. Space Makers: Indigenous Expression and a New American Art is organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas.