MIAC News:
SANTA FE — In recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) presents Stars, Stripes, and First Americans, opening May 17, 2026.
This exhibition examines the complex and evolving relationship between Indigenous peoples and the American flag, highlighting the diverse ways Native artists have incorporated its imagery into their work. Featuring beadwork alongside contemporary painting, weavings, and jewelry, the exhibition explores the flag as a decorative motif, a strategy for survival, a warrior’s mark of honor, and a symbol of resistance.
“The American flag carries many meanings, and for Native communities, those meanings are often layered and deeply personal,” said Elisa Phelps, MIAC Head of Curatorial Affairs. “In these works, the flag is not just a symbol of the United States—it becomes a site of memory, resilience, and sovereignty. Artists are reclaiming and reshaping it to tell their own stories.”
Spanning generations, Stars, Stripes, and First Americans reflects the layered histories that shape Indigenous engagement with the United States. While the flag can evoke the painful legacy of colonization and oppression, it also represents pride in military service and the enduring resilience of Native communities.
From realistic renderings to abstract interpretations, the exhibition brings together traditional art forms and contemporary practices. Each work contributes to an ongoing dialogue about identity, sovereignty, and cultural revitalization, demonstrating how artists continue to reinterpret the flag in ways that are both deeply personal and politically resonant.
On view in the Lloyd Kiva New Gallery, the exhibition included work by Pauline Thomas (Diné), Joanne Begaye (Diné), Teri Greeves (Kiowa), Mary Coriz (Santo Domingo Pueblo), and Richard Kee Yazzie (Diné).
About the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and our donors. The mission of the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology is to serve as a center of stewardship, knowledge, and understanding of the artistic, cultural, and intellectual achievements of the diverse peoples of the Native Southwest.