The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has opened "Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation," its first Native American art exhibition in over 30 years. Featuring 92 works by more than 60 Anishinaabe artists from the Great Lakes region, the show spans from 1892 to 2025, including pieces by renowned artists such as Jim Denomie, Norval Morrisseau, Kent Estey, Jonathan Thunder, and Rabbett before Horses Strickland. The exhibition highlights diverse mediums and themes, from spiritual imagery and biting social commentary to reflections on Indigenous history and truth.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant institutional reengagement with contemporary Indigenous art at a major U.S. museum, addressing a long gap in representation. By centering Anishinaabe voices and showcasing works that grapple with historical trauma, cultural continuity, and identity, the DIA contributes to a broader reckoning with Native American narratives in the art world. The inclusion of artists like Kent Estey, whose work appears in a national gallery for the first time, underscores the exhibition's role in elevating Indigenous artists and fostering dialogue about truth and reconciliation.