American Sunrise: Indigenous Art at Crystal Bridges Opens November 9

HI-RES PHOTOS HERE

BENTONVILLE, Ark.  — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art today announced American Sunrise: Indigenous Art at Crystal Bridges, a new exhibition that examines the beauty and intricacy of Crystal Bridges’ growing art collection, including new acquisitions of works by Native artists. Guided by three themes, Indigenous Futurism, Place, and Kinship, American Sunrise celebrates the historical and ongoing relationships Indigenous peoples carry between the land; intergenerational artistic expressions; and the resilience of affinity between artists and place.  

Opening on November 9, the show will feature a range of innovative and technically mastered mediums including basketry, beadwork, paintings, photography, and pottery showcasing the achievements of more than 30 prominent artists from what is now known as the United States and Canada, spanning 150 years of creativity. 

“Through American Sunrise, our community will have such a special opportunity to experience the vibrancy and breadth of diversity in artistic styles,” said Jordan Poorman Cocker (Kiowa), curator of Indigenous art and NAGPRA officer at Crystal Bridges. “I’m thrilled to see so many new artworks added to our permanent collection, so Crystal Bridges visitors can experience Native American art, artists, and stories for many years to come.” 

The show’s title, American Sunrise, was inspired by a volume of poems by Poet Laureate of the United States Joy Harjo (Muscogee). Featured artists include Andrea Carlson (Grand Portage Ojibwe), Bobby “Dues” Wilson (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota), Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, Frank Buffalo Hyde (Onondaga, Nez Perce), Jane Osti (Cherokee Nation), Jason Garcia (Santa Clara Pueblo), Jeffrey Gibson (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians/ Cherokee descent), Jeri Redcorn (Caddo), Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo), Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne), Kelly Church (Ottawa / Potawatomi), Les Namingha (Hopi-Tewa), Martine Gutierrez, Pop Chalee (Taos Pueblo), Roy Boney (Cherokee Nation), Ryan RedCorn (Osage Nation), Stephen Mopope (Kiowa), Susan Folwell (Santa Clara Pueblo), Teri Greeves (Kiowa), Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo), Will Wilson ( Diné (Navajo)), Yatika Starr Fields (Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Nation, Osage Nation), and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Salish, Kootenai). 

“American Sunrise is an opportunity to reflect on the history of American art through a thoughtful focus on Native artists and artworks,” said Ashley Holland (Cherokee Nation), curator and director of curatorial initiatives at Art Bridges. “It’s an honor to be a part of this project and the ongoing collaboration between Art Bridges and Crystal Bridges, as we work together to expand access to American art and build a more inclusive narrative in museums.” 

The exhibition is co-curated by Jordan Poorman Cocker, curator of Indigenous art and NAGPRA officer at Crystal Bridges, and Ashley Holland, curator and director of curatorial affairs at Art Bridges Foundation. 

American Sunrise is on view at Crystal Bridges from November 9, 2024, through March 23, 2025. The exhibition is free, no tickets required. On November 9, the museum will host a free artist panel featuring Teri Greeves (Kiowa), Jeri Redcorn (Caddo), Kelly Church, (Ottawa / Potawatomi), and Jane Osti (Cherokee Nation), moderated by Poorman Cocker and Holland. 

For more information on the show and its upcoming programming, please visit the museum’s website.  

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About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 12.2 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 120 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 418,375 school children have experienced the museum through art kits, virtual visits, and the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), conceived as a platform for the art, food, and music of our time. In 2026, Crystal Bridges will complete a nearly 100,000 square foot expansion that will allow the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visitCrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712. 

For more information on the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary, please contact:

Allison Elbl, Alexa Price, and Mike Jones