The Tread of Pioneers Museum in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, will open the exhibition “This Is Native Art” on October 22, featuring works by over 26 contemporary Native American artists. Curated by artist, activist, and author Danielle SeeWalker, the show originated at the Colorado State Capitol as an initiative of Colorado Creative Industries, then traveled to the Golden History Museum before arriving at its current venue. Executive Director Candice Bannister secured the exhibition after attending the Indigenous Connections Summit in Golden, collaborating with the Golden History Museum, SeeWalker, and state arts officials to bring it to the Western Slope.
This exhibition matters because it challenges persistent stereotypes that Native American art is historical or static, instead presenting it as a vibrant, evolving contemporary practice. By placing Native voices at the center of Colorado’s civic and cultural spaces—from the state capitol to a regional museum—the show affirms Indigenous modernism and self-representation. It also reflects a broader national trend of increasing visibility for contemporary Native American artists, helping to correct colonial narratives and foster more accurate cultural understanding.