Native Studio Art Since the 1920s: The Healey Collection

This catalog charts the rise of Native American studio art in the twentieth century. 

Native modern studio art represents a critical yet often overlooked history. The publication sheds light on the remarkable, intergenerational story of modern Indigenous painters and sculptors who first developed then revolutionized the movement for Native American fine art.

Native Studio Art Since the 1920s reproduces an outstanding group of works from the William P. Healey Collection at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Across a range of media, the selection includes sixty-three Indigenous artists with a focus on the Western United States. The book’s comprehensive breadth conveys major narratives and key figures of twentieth-century Native American art. Advancing multi-vocal knowledge, this collection catalogue features essays by art historians, conservators, and artists’ relations

Featured artists include: Tony Abeyta, Awa Tsireh, Rick Bartow, Fred Beaver, Charlie Begay, Shonto Begay, Dennis Belindo, Earl Biss, Archie Blackowl, Acee Blue Eagle, Blackbear Bosin, David Bradley, T. C. Cannon, Robert Chee, Chiu-tah (Vicente Mirabal), Woody Crumbo, Dawakema (Milland Lomakema), Degadoga (Cecil Dick), Bob Haozous, Haskay Yahne Yah (Harrison Begay), Ha So De (Narciso Abeyta), Joe Herrera, Valjean Hessing, Joan Hill, John Hoover, Allan Houser, Fred Kabotie, Glen La Fontaine, Jerry Lee, Linda Lomahaftewa, Lomawywesa (Michael Kabotie), Ma Pe Wi (Velino Shije Herrera), Julian Martinez, Solomon McCombs, Rafael Medina, Stephen Mopope, George Morrison, Gerald Nailor, Dan Namingha, Dennis Numkena, Diane O’Leary, Otis Polelonema, Pop Chalee, Quah Ah (Tonita Peña), Kevin Red Star, J. D. Roybal, C. Terry Saul, Fritz Scholder, Soqween (José Encarnación Peña), Willard Stone, Carl Sweezy, Quincy Tahoma, Jerome Tiger, Tos-que (David Williams), Tsa-sah-wee-eh (Helen Hardin), Andrew Tshinahjinnie, Donald Vann, Pablita Velarde, Wah-pah-nay-yah (Dick West), Beatian Yazz (Jimmy Toddy), and James Wayne Yazzie.
 

Alexander Brier Marr is the associate curator of Native American Art at the Saint Louis Art Museum.