SANTA FE, NM.- Gerald Peters Contemporary is presenting As We Have Always Been, bringing together four Indigenous voices whose practices offer distinct perspectives on identity, place, memory, and cultural continuity. Through varied artistic approaches, the exhibition considers the enduring relationships between ancestral knowledge, lived experience, and contemporary expression.
Grounded in Indigenous perspectives, the exhibition explores how each artist draws upon personal histories, cultural traditions, and enduring relationships to land to examine questions of belonging, resilience, and self-definition. While distinct in their approaches, the works collectively reflect the vitality of contemporary Indigenous artistic practice, offering nuanced perspectives on continuity, stewardship, and the evolving nature of Indigenous identity across generations.
Patrick Dean Hubbell (Din, b. 1987) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice draws inspiration from the spirit of the natural world, exploring the relationships between land, memory, and Indigenous ways of knowing. Incorporating earth pigments gathered from the Navajo Nation with oil and acrylic, his richly layered compositions are informed by the geometric traditions of Navajo weaving and reflect both the physical landscape of the Southwest and Din philosophies of renewal, balance, and interconnectedness. Hubbell received his BFA from Arizona State University and his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His work is held in the collections of the Denver Art Museum, Prez Art Museum Miami, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the Addison Gallery of American Art, among others, and he was awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant in 2017.
Monty Little (Din, b. 1983) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice explores cultural reclamation, identity, and the lasting effects of colonialism and displacement. Working across a range of media with a particular focus on printmaking, Little creates layered works that examine Indigenous presence through the lens of personal history and collective memory. His work has been exhibited nationally, including at the Chazen Museum of Art, Oklahoma Contemporary, and the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. Little received dual BFAs in Studio Arts and Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts and an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2023. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran, having served honorably from 2004–2008.
George Alexander II (Muscogee-Creek, b. 1994), also known as Ofuskie, is an interdisciplinary artist whose work blends surrealist symbolism with Indigenous values to explore themes of identity, humanity, time, and the natural world. Through compositions informed by personal reflection and cultural knowledge, Alexander creates works that encourage dialogue around unity, compassion, and our shared responsibility to one another. Reimagining traditional motifs through a contemporary lens, his practice affirms the enduring relevance of Indigenous knowledge while inviting viewers to consider a more interconnected and empathetic future.
Sean Chandler (Aaniiih, b. 1975) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work draws upon the traditional artistic practices of his ancestors while examining the complexities of contemporary Indigenous life. Rooted in early teachings of hide and tipi painting, Chandler’s practice explores themes of identity, sovereignty, cultural resilience, and the lasting impacts of colonialism through a deeply personal lens. He earned degrees in Art and Native American Studies from Montana State University and a Doctor of Education from the University of Montana. His work is held in the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Yellowstone Art Museum, the Missoula Art Museum, and the Eiteljorg Museum, where he was named a 2023 Contemporary Art Fellow.
As We Have Always Been: Featuring Monty Little (Din), Sean Chandler (Aaniiih), and George Alexander (Muscogee – Creek) opened August 14.
