October 31, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS — In celebration of Native American History Month, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) presents a suite of exhibitions, displays, and programming that honors Native American culture and artistry. With ongoing and upcoming exhibits featuring influential Native artists, Mia emphasizes its commitment to recognizing Indigenous perspectives through inclusive and community-centered curation.

“At the Minneapolis Institute of Art, we are honored to celebrate Native American History Month by sharing exhibitions that highlight the artistry, resilience, and cultural contributions of Indigenous communities,” said Katie Luber, Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director and President.

“Our approach at Mia centers on sharing the richness and diversity of Native American art and culture with our community,” said Valéria Piccoli, Mia’s Ken and Linda Cutler Chair of the Arts of the Americas and Curator of Latin American Art. “We strive to present exhibitions that honor Indigenous heritage and inspire appreciation for the depth, complexity, and ongoing beauty of Native artistry.”

Mia’s current exhibitions, lobby display, and permanent collections include the following:

Current Exhibition: “O’ Powa O’ Meng: The Art and Legacy of Jody Folwell”

Through January in Mia’s Cargill Gallery, “O’ Powa O’ Meng” highlights the revolutionary work of Jody Folwell, a visionary potter from Kha’p’o Owingeh (Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico). Renowned for infusing social, personal, and political themes into Pueblo pottery, Folwell has spent over five decades challenging and expanding Native art traditions while honoring her heritage. To offer deeper insight into her work, artists Jody and Susan Folwell and curators Adriana Greci Green and Bruce Bernstein will lead a conversation about the exhibition in Mia’s Pillsbury Auditorium on November 10, 2024, at 2 p.m.

Special Lobby Display: Navajo Twilled Saddle Blanket

Throughout Native American Heritage Month, a Navajo Twilled Saddle Blanket will be displayed in the main lobby, celebrating the artistry and significance of Indigenous craft.

Permanent Collections 

Mia’s extensive collection of Native American art is featured in galleries 259, 260, and 261.

Programming for Native American Heritage Month

Throughout November, Mia will host a variety of programs focused on celebrating Indigenous culture and history, including:

• Meet at Mia: Reclaiming Identity
• Mia Matinee: Killers of the Flower Moon
• Family Day: Wonders of Nature

Upcoming Exhibition: “Mary Sully”

Coming in March 2025, Mia will showcase the intricate work of Yankton Dakota artist Mary Sully (Susan Mabel Deloria). Created between the 1920s and 1940s, Sully’s highly distinctive works are informed by her Native American and settler ancestry. This first solo exhibition of Sully’s groundbreaking production highlights recent Mia acquisitions, works that complicate traditional notions of Native American and modern art.

Mia’s dedication to incorporating Native voices into its exhibitions extends beyond Native American History Month. From recorded lectures to permanent collections, Mia consistently collaborates with Native communities, ensuring that Native perspectives are not only visible but central to its curation.

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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, and from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration.

General admission to Mia is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee.

For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit new.artsmia.org.