Nicholas Galanin
Examining the complexities of contemporary Indigenous identity, culture, and representation, Nicholas Galanin works from his experience as a Tlingit and Unangax\u0302 artist. Embedding incisive observation and reflection into his oftentimes provocative work, he aims to redress the widespread misappropriation of Indigenous visual culture, the impact of colonialism, as well as collective amnesia. Galanin reclaims narrative and creative agency, while demonstrating contemporary Indigenous art as a continually evolving practice. As he describes: \u201cMy process of creation is a constant pursuit of freedom and vision for the present and future. I use my work to explore adaptation, resilience, survival, dream, memory, cultural resurgence, and connection and disconnection to the land.\u201d Galanin unites both traditional and contemporary practices, creating a synthesis of elements in order to navigate \u201cthe politics of cultural representation.\u201d Speaking through multiple visual, sonic, and tactile languages, his concepts determine his processes, which include sculpture, installation, photography, video, performance, and textile-based work. This contemporary practice builds upon an Indigenous artistic continuum while celebrating the culture and its people; Galanin contributes urgent criticality and vision through resonant and layered works.\n\nThe online viewing room at Peter Blum can be seen here.\n\nNicholas Galanin\xa0(b. 1979, Sitka, Alaska) earned a BFA at London Guildhall University (2003), an MFA at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand (2007), and apprenticed with master carvers and jewelers. He currently lives and works with his family in Sitka, Alaska. Galanin participated in Desert X, Palm Springs (2021); Biennale of Sydney (2020); Venice Biennale (2017); Whitney Biennial (2019); and Honolulu Biennial (2019). Galanin\u2019s work is in permanent collections including The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Art Institute of Chicago; The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.; Art Bridges, Bentonville, AR; Detroit Institute of Arts; The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Denver Art Museum; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Princeton University among others. He received an award from American Academy of Arts and Letters (2020) and received a Soros Arts Fellowship (2020).\n\nLoom, 2022 prefab children's school desks and chairs with graphite and pencil carving, 100 x 83 x 54 inches (254 x 210.8 x 137.2 cm)\n\nWorld Clock, 2022 monotype on paper and accumulating stacks of The New York Times installation: dimensions variable monotype: 30 x 22 1/2 inches (76.2 x 57.1 cm) The New York Times: 11 1/4 x 12 inches, each