Native Fashion
Exhibition
Exhibition Overview
Native Fashion
, curator
September 1, 2024–January 5, 2025
Galleries 315, 316, 317, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Native Fashion features traditional garments, powwow regalia, streetwear, accessories, haute couture, photography, and contemporary art by national and local Indigenous designers alongside examples from the Spencer Museum's collection. The exhibition highlights the artistic richness of wearable artworks and their connection to historical and contemporary culture as expressions of tribal and personal identity. An accompanying runway show will showcase the talent of contemporary makers and remind visitors that display cases are not the natural context for Indigenous apparel. The exhibition examines the role fashion and adornment play in Indigenous lifeways through four themes that were developed in collaboration with a team of Native community advisors:
“Resilience” features Indigenous genius through innovation, technology, and resourceful use of materials, including how trade among Native groups and later Europeans affected craft, design, and embellishment.
“Representation” celebrates the diversity that exists among the 573+ federally recognized Tribes, featuring various styles of traditional and contemporary dress while educating the public about the differences between cultural appropriation and appreciation.
“Politics” discusses the ways colonization, government policies, and activism have affected Indigenous identity and dress, including why American flag motifs were incorporated into beadwork and how activist groups utilize wearable symbols for awareness and solidarity.
“Community” highlights artists, designers, and storytellers within our local Indigenous community. A workshop space allows people to gather, sit and relax, make art, touch material samples, and browse Native fashion publications.
Exhibition images
Works of art
2018
2018
circa 1939
circa 1939
2018
2021
circa 1939
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
late 1970s
1970s–1980s
2019 - 2019
2019 - 2019
2021 - 2021
2019 - 2019
2018 - 2018
2015 - 2015
2023 - 2023
2022 - 2022
mid 1900s–1965
late 1800s–1928
1999
late 1800s–early 1900s
1974–1975
late 1800s–1950
early 1900s–1980
1900s
late 1800s–1950
late 1800s–1981
late 1800s–1981
early 1900s–1919
late 1800s–1996
late 1800s–1964
1991
2023
2024
2024 - 2024
2020
2023
2020s
circa 2020
circa 1970s
circa 1970s
circa 1970s
2020s
circa 1970s
2024
2024 - 2024
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
1970s–1980s
2022
2022
Events
September 10, 2024
Activity
1:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 409 Lee Study Center
September 10, 2024
Talk
12:00–1:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
September 12, 2024
Talk
10:15–11:00AM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
September 12, 2024
Social
4:00–6:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St
September 25, 2024
Talk
3:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
October 27, 2024
Screening
2:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 318 Brosseau Learning Center
November 16, 2024
Activity
1:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
November 16, 2024
Talk
1:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 318 Brosseau Learning Center
November 21, 2024
Screening
6:00–7:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 318 Brosseau Learning Center
December 14, 2024
Performance
4:00–6:00PM
Kansas Union Ballroom, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd
October 3, 2024
Talk
10:15–11:15AM
November 23, 2024
Activity
1:00–4:00PM
November 24, 2024
Activity
9:00AM–5:00PM