La Fonda on the Plaza | Santa Fe, NM

Cutting Edge

The fifth annual Sovereign Santa Fe will feature three special guest exhibitors.

As visitors flock to Santa Fe in August, one of the many events collectors won’t want to miss is the fifth edition of Sovereign Santa Fe. This forward-thinking Native American art exposition showcases some of the most innovative works by Indigenous artists today. These artists are known for pushing boundaries, blazing new trails and combining tradition and modernization.

Tom Farris (Otoe-Missouria/Cherokee) and Billy Hensley (Chickasaw), Raven Moon, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40”. From the Collective Wisdom exhibition.

Curated by esteemed Navajo artist Tony Abeyta and organized by FaraHNHeight Fine Art, Sovereign Santa Fe will be held at La Fonda on the Plaza in the heart of Downtown Santa Fe. Artists whose work will be available to view during the event include Lynnette Haozous, Nelson White, Danielle SeeWalker, Dustin Mater, True Archdale, Micha Wesley, Kristin Gentry, Jesse Raine Littlebird, Derayna DeClay, Brian Davidson and more.

Erin Shaw (Chickasaw/Choctaw) and Billy Hensley (Chickasaw), Lines of Heredity, cloth, string, photo prints and acrylic on canvas, 16 x 40”. From the Collective Wisdom exhibition.

For the 2023 event, Sovereign Santa Fe will also be showcasing three other guest exhibitors that will help create a more dynamic and immersive experience. Collective Wisdom showcases more than 20 First American artists—each piece a unique collaboration between two or more artists. PIVOT; Original Skateboard Deck Art by Contemporary Native American Artists “provides insights into the contemporary Native art landscape while acknowledging the traditional cultures that help shape the identities of the artists who create the works,” according to FaraHNHeight Fine Art. Keepers of the Land is a multimedia collaborative exhibit featuring contemporary Native American artists from Oklahoma.

“Working side-by-side and collaborating with three other guest-curated exhibitors will most certainly bring a new dynamic element to the event in its entirety,” says Gregory Farah, director of FaraHNHeight Fine Art. The space, which is held in the Lumpkins Ballroom at La Fonda, will be divided into four quadrants: Sovereign will take one quarter, and the other three exhibits will each occupy a quarter as well.

Elton ManyGoats (Diné), Empty Promises, acrylic, oil, markers, ink, bullet shells, rusted can top and newspaper, 40 x 30"

Kristin Gentry (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) and Hoka Skenandore (Oneida/Oglala/Lakota/Luiseño), Rays, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 12”. From the Collective Wisdom exhibition.

True Archdale (Assiniboine), Inside a Medicine Bag, oil and mixed media on western white pine wood panel, 20 x 20”

“Sovereign Santa Fe will always fundamentally hold onto its mission of platforming and promoting living working contemporary Native American artists...But every year we strive to work and collaborate with other artists and entities to bring fresh outlooks into the ever evolving scene to bring a more enriching experience to potential viewers,” Farah continues.

“FaraHNHeight Fine Art Gallery is continuously thrilled and honored every year that we get the opportunity to hold this event.”

The show will run Friday, August 18, to Sunday, August 20, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.