Tlingit artist James Johnson won Best of Show and three other awards for his 'Bear Tunic' at the 13th biennial Juried Art Show and Competition, part of Celebration in Juneau. The tunic also won Best of Formline, Best of Division: Sewing, and Best of Skin and Fur Category: Sewing. Johnson's 'Sea Otter Bowl' took first place in Carving and Sculpture Division. Six other artists and four youth artists were honored in the show hosted by Sealaska Heritage Institute, with works on display at the Nathan Jackson Gallery.
This event matters because it highlights the resilience and vitality of Tlingit and Indigenous art traditions, which were historically suppressed. Johnson's multiple wins and his donation of prize money to Sealaska's Native Youth programs underscore the cultural significance of passing artistic knowledge to future generations. The show also demonstrates the growing institutional recognition of Indigenous art, with Johnson's works held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.