Indigenous portraiture: power and perception

Western art is filled with images of Native Americans, which range from direct observation recordings to very romantic, invented images. Yet many of these paintings are not made by indigenous artists. What is reported when an outsider portrays someone from another culture? How are these images different from when a person connected with a culture shares personal or collective experience?

Modern indigenous artists actively destroy myths and prejudices about indigenous peoples through their art. Many portraits of indigenous peoples, created by artists who are not indigenous, romanticize, create stereotypes or suitable indigenous peoples and cultures. Comparing these non-native narratives with contemporary art by Aboriginal artists, the exhibition "www.tacomaart…e/details/" target="_blank">Strength and Perception"aims to enable Aboriginal people and communities to demonstrate their resilience and power over how they are portrayed and perceived.