The Minnesota Museum of American Art in St. Paul has opened “Queering Indigeneity,” a new exhibition curated by Penny Kagigebi with supporting curator Ben Gessner. Featuring works by 16 queer and two-spirit Indigenous artists, the show includes a birch bark basket by Kagigebi, a glass mosaic by Sharon Day, beaded soundwave portraits by Ryan Young, and textile works by Delia Touché. The exhibition opens Thursday in the Nancy and John Lindahl Gallery and places LGBTQ+ and two-spirit Native artists at the center of the narrative.
The exhibition matters because it shifts the conversation around queer Indigenous people from mere tolerance to respect and care, emphasizing cultural teachings and professional development for the artists. By foregrounding two-spirit histories and oral traditions, “Queering Indigeneity” challenges dominant narratives and creates space for deeper understanding, particularly for younger generations seeking to learn about Indigenous gender and sexual diversity.