‘Native Now’ showcases Indigenous identity, resilience and creativity with works by more than 30 artists
The Rockwell Museum in Corning, a Smithsonian affiliate, celebrates 50 years and recognizes America’s 250th anniversary with “Native Now: Contemporary Indigenous Art at The Rockwell Museum.” The exhibition, on view Jan. 24-May 4, 2026, will highlight Indigenous identity, resilience and creativity with 40 works of art by more than 30 artists.
The exhibition features artists such as Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, 1940-2025), Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo, b.1969), Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooke (Crow), b. 1981), Sarah Sense (Chitimacha/Choctaw, b. 1980), Hayden Haynes (Onödowa’ga:’ (Seneca Deer Clan) Kiowa, Mvskoke, b. 1983), Edgar Heap of Birds (Cheyenne, Arapaho, b. 1954), Preston Singletary (Tlingit, b. 1963) and many others that showcase the exemplary range of The Rockwell’s holdings. Additional works on loan to The Rockwell Museum through 2026 stand as testaments to the Museum’s strategic partnership with Art Bridges. The loans include works by renowned contemporary artists such as Jeffrey Gibson (Mississippi Choctaw/Cherokee, b. 1972), Raven Halfmoon (Caddo, b. 1991) and Cannupa Hanska Luger (Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold Reservation, b. 1979).
“Since its founding in 1976, The Rockwell Museum has evolved through deep engagement with our community and a growing commitment to inclusive storytelling,” said Erin M. Coe, executive director of The Rockwell Museum. “‘Native Now’ reflects more than two decades of collecting shaped by partnerships with Native artists and advisors. As we mark our 50th anniversary in 2026 and look toward America 250, we are affirming our responsibility to center Indigenous perspectives and illuminate the vitality of contemporary Native American art today.”
“Native Now” will explore themes of survival and resistance and acquaint visitors with artists who use the land to address spiritual and environmental issues. Other works connect the past to the present and look ahead to a future anchored by sovereignty and restoration. The exhibition will be organized in three sections: “Indigenous Landscapes,” “Past/Future” and “Thrivance.”
“‘Native Now’ invites viewers to consider how contemporary Indigenous artists engage with layered histories, cultural continuity and aesthetic innovation. By centering themes of land, futurism and thrivance, we aim to highlight the vitality of Native art practices today,” said Amanda Lett, curator of exhibitions and collections at The Rockwell Museum.
“Indigenous Landscapes” explores the sacred and political relationship between land and Native identity through works by artists Teresa Baker (Mandan/Hidatsa, b. 1985), Emmi Whitehorse (Diné (Navajo), b. 1957) and Julie Buffalohead (Ponca, b. 1972). Baker finds inspiration in the Northern Plains where she grew up and often combines natural and artificial materials. For “Yellow Prairie Grass,” Baker layers artificial turf with buckskin, acrylic and yarn in gradient yellow and orange hues that simultaneously evoke a vibrant sunset and a grassy field.
Works in “Past/Future” embody Native Futurism, a concept that fuses ancestral knowledge with visions of Indigenous sovereignty and transformation. Virgil Ortiz combines traditional ceramic techniques that he learned from his mother and grandmother with his affinity for modern sci-fi to explore Indigenous resilience and sovereignty in “Ancient Elder Figure / Pueblo Revolt 1680 / 2180 Series.” The work represents the wisdom of those who lived in the past and stands as a beacon of hope for a future in which Indigenous people thrive.
“Thrivance,” a section of the exhibition named for a concept inspired by the work of Native scholars Gerald Vizenor and Mishuana Goeman, celebrates resilience and flourishing through artists such as Wendy Red Star, Sarah Sense and Melanie Yazzie (Diné (Navajo), b. 1966). Red Star uses photography, textiles and mixed media installation to explore history and contemporary life on the reservation in Montana where she was raised. “Native Now” features “Catalogue Number 1950.76,” a work that includes reproduced and altered catalog cards that document historical Crow cultural items. Through drawings and annotations, Red Star provides context, reclaims historical narratives and emphasizes the cultural significance of the objects.
To thoughtfully examine the breadth and complexities of contemporary Native American art, The Rockwell Museum partnered with Randee Spruce (Seneca Nation, Heron Clan), who served as the exhibition’s co-curator.
“I am super thankful to be able to offer insight to the creation of this exhibition and the collaboration between the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center at Seneca Iroquois National Museum and The Rockwell Museum,” said Spruce.
“Native Now: Contemporary Indigenous Art at The Rockwell Museum” is organized by The Rockwell Museum and curated by Amanda Lett, curator of exhibitions and collections at The Rockwell Museum and Randee Spruce (Seneca Nation, Heron Clan), curator at the Seneca Iroquois National Museum. The exhibition installation includes graphic design by Kevin Coochwytewa Design.
