A special exhibition at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe will bring together a who’s who lineup of contemporary Native American artists during the Native American Art Group Exhibition. Artists include the likes of Karen Clarkson, Greyshoes (Upton Ethelbah Jr.), Dan Friday, Jesse Littlebird, Ira Lujan, Spooner Marcus, Thomas “Breeze” Marcus, Sheridan MacKnight, Jody Naranjo, Chris Pappan, Gabriel Mozart Abeyta (Ugly Pie), Dolores Purdy, Lisa Holt, Harlan Reano, Ryan Singer, Raven Skyriver and Helen K. Tindel.
Dolores Purdy (Caddo), What Are You Looking At?, colored pencil on Indian Territory ledger paper, 13 x 15½ in.
Just as the artist list is extensive, so are the types of art available to explore: paintings, sculpture in stone, bronze and glass, pottery and more. The body of work will highlight the diversity and innovation of Native artists working across a range of mediums.
“Contemporary Native American art continues to evolve in exciting and meaningful ways, and Blue Rain Gallery is proud to support artists who are pushing creative boundaries while remaining connected to their cultural foundations,” says Leah Garcia of Blue Rain Gallery. “This exhibition brings together remarkable artists whose work reflects the strength, innovation and vitality of Indigenous art today. It is a privilege to share their stories and artistic achievements with our community.”
Karen Clarkson (Choctaw), Looking Ahead, oil on linen, 24 x 12 in.
Purdy brings a colorful ledger art piece to the upcoming show, featuring vibrant shades of teal, magenta, red and orange. “My work has the aesthetics of historic storytelling ledger art reinterpreted through a contemporary feminine lens in my style that is both recognizable and always evolving,” she says. “Bold color relationships, contemporary linear designs combined with whimsey, humor and a touch of Western flair, is a style I have been known for. I am excited to share my new works and grateful for the collectors and supporters who continue to follow my artistic journey.”
Lisa Holt (Cochiti) and Harlan Reano (Kewa), Floral Portal, natural clay with acrylic paint, 9 x 9¾ in.
Among Clarkson’s new work is an oil titled Looking Ahead. “[This painting] holds a special place for me,” says the artist. “[It] reflects a quiet moment of anticipation—one that feels both intimate and universal. I was drawn to the idea of a young Navajo woman standing by a threshold, aware that childhood is beginning to recede while the future calls her forward. The doll she holds becomes a tender symbol of the world she has known: the comfort of childhood, the stories that shaped her, and the innocence she understands she cannot carry in the same way forever. Yet she does not turn away from it. She holds it with affection, as if honoring where she has come from while gently making room for who she is becoming. In her gaze, I wanted to suggest not certainty, but openness—a thoughtful, heartfelt readiness to meet the changes ahead while remaining connected to memory, family and the quiet strength of her own spirit.”
Raven Skyriver (Tlingit), Grandpa, free-hand sculpted glass, 5 x 8 x 11 in.
The Native American Art Group Exhibition opens on August 13 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and is part of Blue Rain Gallery’s Annual Celebration of Native American Art, a multi-day event honoring leading Indigenous artists through exhibitions, demonstrations, lectures and special events. —
Blue Rain Gallery
Opens August 13, 2026
544 S. Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 954-9902, www.blueraingallery.com
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