Native American Heritage at Mia
Celebrate and honor the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories, and artistic achievements of Native people.
Explore the history of Native American Art at Mia.
Explore the Art
Mia's Native American Art Collection
Collection on view in Galleries 259–261.
The Native American Art collection at Mia is rich in examples of the highest quality art. Experience highlights from the permanent collection here.
Past Exhibitions
O’ Powa O’ Meng: The Art and Legacy of Jody Folwell
A potter from Kha’p’o Owingeh (Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico), Jody Folwell has revolutionized Pueblo pottery—and Native art more broadly—over the past five decades. The first Pueblo artist to place personal, political, and social narratives on her pottery, she has pushed the boundaries of form, content, and design while remaining firmly within the art traditions of her community.
Explore Mia’s past exhibitions dedicated to the art and culture of Native Americans.
Reimagining Native/American Art
What happens when Native American and American art is seen together, rather than in separate places? Might we look at these artworks in a new way? What stories and connections emerge from this new way of being together?
In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now
Presenting over 150 photographs of, by, and for Indigenous people, “In Our Hands” welcomes all to see through the lens held by Native photographers. Open October 22, 2023 – January 14, 2024.
The Lyrical Artwork of Jim Denomie
Jim Denomie (Ojibwe, Lac Courte Oreilles Band, 1955–2022) drew inspiration from lived experiences, pop culture, Anishinaabe traditions, and American histories to tell compelling narratives that depict his experiences of being Native in America.
Educational Resources
Explore Native American talks, programs, and presentations
Find recorded lectures, talks, and other videos on Native artists.
Native Art, Native Voices: A Resource for K-12 Learners
This resource supports the integration of Native voices and art into K-12 curriculum. It includes artist interviews; essays about artworks in Mia’s collection; questions to support deep looking, critical thinking, and discussion; art lessons developed by and with Minnesota Native artists; and reading selections for students to help provide environmental context for the artworks.