Exhibit Introduction
Tales on Skin: The Legacy of Native American Tattoos is an exhibit that gives platforms to the artists responsible for reviving the tattooing culture in Native American communities. Tattoos are mighty narrators permanently inked into the skin. Suppressed by European colonizers who sought to gain control of the Native population not only by stealing the land beneath their feet but also by eliminating the traditions that were unique to them, tattooing being included, Native Tattooing has slowly regained its momentum.
This exhibit aims to bring Indigenous art into mainstream spaces to help shift the public perception and promote greater respect for Native American heritage, providing Indigenous artists a platform to reclaim their art, culture, and sovereignty. Each tattoo reclaims bodily and cultural autonomy, acting as a visible and permanent testament to Indigenous sovereignty, a form of self-governance through art. By placing power back into the hands of Indigenous artists, this exhibit challenges the historical suppression of Native cultural expressions. They bear intense cultural, spiritual, and personal meaning to the wearer by subverting the power back to them to define the self.
They reflect an important realization I’ve made throughout this class: that art is not just about the ink on the page, the weaves within a basket, or even the marks on the skin. It is about the living, breathing story, resilience, tradition, and identity of the community and its people. Tattoos from all cultures serve as personal expressions of identity, and one of my passions is exploring how this expression of identity intersects with the identity of the greater community in which individuals find themselves.
This exhibit spans the Pacific Coast, Great Plains, and Eastern Woodlands, showcasing the distinct yet interconnected tattooing traditions that have endured across the continent. Each region’s designs reflect its unique relationship to the land and local customs. By representing various regions, the exhibit highlights the diversity of Indigenous tattooing practices across North America and the shared resilience in reclaiming these traditions. This exhibit aims to show how each piece connects individuals to their ancestors, land, and community while expressing personal journeys in the present, helping form a collective story that bridges the past, present, and future.
As you move through the exhibit, you’ll see how ancient practices are reborn, adapted by new generations reclaiming their heritage. This exhibit recognizes Native artists as both keepers of tradition and agents of change, empowering them to tell their stories through tattooing. It also acts as a space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to appreciate tattooing practices' deep roots and ongoing revival.
Through the curation of this exhibit, I have gained immense respect for Native artistry and helped you see tattoos as more than symbols of individual identity but as markers of shared cultural memory. I’ve seen cultural traditions not only as art forms but as expressions of survival, shaped by history and tied to community pride.
I hope that these tattoos are seen not only as beautiful pieces of art but also as vessels of memory and meaning. This will broaden your view on tattoos and foster respect and empathy across cultural lines. These pieces of art represent a cultural and artistic revival and perseverance that deserves to be celebrated and acknowledged by all. The artists and communities deserve to have their efforts in reclaiming their heritage applauded and deserve the space to showcase their identities in the modern world. Thank you for joining me in celebrating this living and breathing art.