Kent Monkman, a contemporary artist from the Fisher River Cree Nation, is preparing for his first major U.S. museum exhibition, “Kent Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors,” at the Denver Art Museum. In an interview, Monkman discusses his career-long practice of reimagining Western art history from an Indigenous perspective, using beauty, humor, and theatricality to expose colonial violence and systemic injustices. The exhibition, which began planning in 2018 and was delayed by the pandemic, will later travel to Canada, and Monkman reflects on the rare opportunity to see his dispersed works reunited and the liberating experience of trusting curators with the presentation.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant institutional recognition of Monkman’s provocative and subversive practice, which challenges museums to confront their historical exclusion of Indigenous voices. Monkman’s work, including his alter ego Miss Chief Eagle Testikle and pieces like *The Scream*, forces a reckoning with painful histories, making this show a pivotal moment for Indigenous representation in major U.S. art institutions. The interview also highlights Monkman’s personal journey from feeling a sense of belonging in museums as a child to critically unpacking the colonial narratives embedded in art history.