photo by: Courtesy of Spencer Museum of Art

Spider Woman/Emerging Woman by Teri Greeves (Kiowa)

The University of Kansas’ Spencer Museum of Art will open a new exhibit Sunday that explores Native American fashion.

“Native Fashion” will examine the diversity and ingenuity of wearable artworks produced by Native people from the 19th century to today. The exhibition, which represents over 40 tribal nations, will feature traditional garments, contemporary couture and streetwear and accessories, including jewelry, bags and other adornments.

The exhibition is curated by Sydney Pursel (Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska), the Spencer Museum’s curator for public practice, in collaboration with a team of Native community advisers: Christina Haswood (Diné), Alicia Swimmer (Oglala and Sicangu Lakota), Felicia Miner (Cheyenne River Sioux) and Miranda Bradford (Citizen Potawatomi Nation). Elena Theresa (Apache Tribe of Oklahoma) and Dominique Stringer served as curatorial interns.

photo by: Courtesy of Spencer Museum of Art

Void by Jontay “Kahm” Kahmakoatayo

“The all-Native advisory board was instrumental to the development of the exhibition themes and the artist selection, which includes many local Indigenous designers,” Pursel said in a news release Wednesday. “I am particularly excited to have the opportunity to present local artists alongside those who are nationally recognized to capture the incredible talent in our home region and reflect the depth of diversity among Native makers.”

The exhibition examines the importance of fashion and adornment to historical and contemporary culture as expressions of tribal, personal, political and collective identity. The role of fashion is explored in four overarching themes: resilience, representation, resistance and relations, according to the release.

In addition to the exhibition, the Spencer Museum will host a runway show Dec. 14 at the Kansas Union to highlight contemporary Native fashion and celebrate Native designers from the region. More details regarding the runway show will be shared in the coming months, the release said.

“Native Fashion” will remain on view through Jan. 5, 2025. Admission to the Spencer Museum and this exhibition is free.

Other programming associated with the exhibition will include artist talks and demonstrations. For more information, see the Spencer’s website at spencerart.ku.edu.

photo by: Courtesy of Spencer Museum of Art

Concho belt by Eddie Tsalabutie (Zuñi)