S’edav Va’aki Museum Spotlights Complexity of Identity in New Contemporary Art Exhibit

The S’edav Va’aki Museum (SVM) is proud to announce the grand opening of its latest exhibit, Indigenous Identities, set to open on October 8, 2026. Indigenous Identities is a changing exhibit spotlighting contemporary art closing in the summer of 2027.

“Cultural identity shapes how individuals see themselves, understand others, and move through the world,” said Curator of Exhibits, Caitlin Dichter. “Many artists use their culture, memories, and life experiences in their work.”

The upcoming exhibit will feature the stunning work of ten Native American artists from throughout the United States. Together, they highlight the complexity of Indigenous artists in 21st-century America and that maintaining cultural identity is closely tied to survival, kinship, and connection to ancestral lands. In this contemporary art exhibition, visitors will explore issues of sovereignty, commodity, the right to cultural expression in public spaces, and the ancestral stories passed down through generations that speak to identity in both personal and collective ways.

In the Indigenous Identities exhibit, art becomes an expression of memory, resilience, and belonging. Discover how deeply culture is woven into individual identity and human expression by attending our Indigenous Identities Speaker Series! As part of SVM’s Thursday Evening Programs, the ten artists will discuss their understanding of the complexity of identity and how art reflects lived experience. This speaker series is free to the public as in-person programs in our Community Room and a virtual option.

Celebrate this exhibit with us by atthing our Grand Opening on October 8, 2026 frim 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Don't miss a special rap performance, Museum store, and eveing ambiance.