Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969

Curated by Candice Hopkins (citizen of Carcross/Tagish First Nation), Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969 is the first major exhibition to position performance as an origin point for contemporary Native art. It traces a lineage of artistic experimentation that emerged in the late 1960s, a period defined by political activism, renewed engagement with Indigenous aesthetic traditions, and a profound reassertion of identity and self-determination.

It is grounded in the pivotal year 1969, when Indian Theatre: An Artistic Experiment in Process was first published in Santa Fe at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and the Indians of All Tribes occupied Alcatraz Island.

The exhibition brings together over 100 artworks by over 40 artists and collectives. Across film, video, sculpture, painting, drawing, beadwork, and archival materials, the exhibition demonstrates the breadth of Native artistic practices while emphasizing performance as their generative core.

About SITE Santa Fe

Guided by artists, rooted in New Mexico, SITE Santa Fe celebrates contemporary creative expression. SITE Santa Fe is an internationally recognized destination for art and artists and a community hub for creativity and learning. Founded in 1995 to establish the first international contemporary art biennial in the United States, SITE Santa Fe is a non-collecting art institution committed to supporting new developments in contemporary art, encouraging artistic exploration, and expanding community through robust year-round programming.

To learn more, visit sitesantafe.org.