Sovereign Santa Fe is back once again, bringing collectors and enthusiasts from around the world to the beautiful city of Santa Fe for a celebration of cutting edge Native American art. Now in its sixth edition, Sovereign provides a platform for “New School” Native American art “and its elusive relationship between traditional and contemporary.”
Jay Carrier (Onondaga Nation), Mountain View, mixed media on paper, 30 x 22”
Artists participating in the 2024 show include Dan Rocky, Orin Nez, Micah Wesley, Billy Hensley, Kristin Gentry, Danielle SeeWalker, Piersten Doctor and many others.
“I think any venue that offers a show space for contemporary Native American art definitely takes a lot of integrity and guts,” says Onondaga Nation artist Jay Carrier. “This space provides a platform to show works of art that might not have a chance to be shown. Some of the talents in the arts go unseen because of the peripheral space that they dwell in.” His showpiece Mountain View was completed using an intuitive abstract process. “Colors and imagery randomly appear and take form in compositions. This type of painting is a form of meditation for me. Music and concentration/meditation are definitely catalysts for a level of inspiration for the recent works,” he says. “Mountains for me are a place of serenity, a place of wonderment, a place of physical and emotional challenge. I can sit quietly and empty all thoughts and emotions and feel the sun, wind and earth in a pure state. I’m always inspired to create after being in the mountains.”
True Archdale (Assiniboine), Rising Sun, acrylic and colored pencil on wood panel, 24 x 18”
Diné artist Corey Begay’s acrylic painting Digital Girl was inspired by the idea of individuals being unable to put their phones and other devices down. “Originally, [it was] inspired by my nieces and nephews who need tablets to keep them busy while their parents can’t always keep them entertained,” says Begay. “This is not entirely a bad thing to be in a digital world. The painting also represents busy people who have all the apps they need to work mobile…A modern digital world within the Navajo Reservation is the actual image of the painting—whether you’re being productive or not on your devices, don’t stray too far away from your culture and being connected to the land.”
Billy Hensley (Chickasaw), Pathways, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36”
True Archdale’s abstract piece Rising Sun, created with acrylic and colored pencil, features various geometric shapes, symbols and animal figures. “[It] started as a finger painting where subliminal fragments start to emerge that form a playful array of iconic images that reflect the Northern Plains. Colorful overlapping abstract and cubist planes suggest a passage of time that connects the past and the present,” she says. “The rising sun in the upper left is a metaphor for the strength and perseverance of the Indigenous people and a testament to the resilience and beauty of my culture.”
Sovereign Santa Fe takes place the weekend of August 16 to 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Special events and exhibits will be taking place throughout the weekend in collaboration with Sovereign including Keepers of the Land, Sovereignly Fit and the Sovereign Marketplace on the Mezzanine.
Danielle Seewalker (Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta), Santa Fe Way, acrylic, oil, aerosol and oil stick on canvas
Sovereignly Fit is this year’s fashion show, a ticketed two-night extravaganza showcasing the distinctiveness of Indigenous designers. The fashion exhibition will take place in the evening on August 16 and 17. Each night will feature three designers, with Friday devoted to streetwear and lifestyle brands and Saturday featuring couture and luxury. The show is produced and organized by Towering Stone, a men’s luxury fashion and lifestyle brand founded by Loren Aragon of the Acoma Pueblo.
August 16-18, 2024
Sovereign Santa Fe
La Fonda on the Plaza
100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
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