“Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art” offers celebratory and mysterious, thought-provoking, and critical two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, including abstract and experimental contemporary Chickasaw art. This traveling exhibition offers an opportunity to view recent works by leading and emerging artists of the Chickasaw Nation.

The artworks analyze the complex relationship between contemporary Chickasaw life and rich tribal history and culture. Each artist demonstrates a personal approach. Many of the artists are inspired by traditional Chickasaw elements of design and render them using contemporary materials and aesthetics to create an innovative visual language. Others investigate tribal stories, belief systems, or family histories and traditions, and how these relate to present-day Chickasaw life.

With more than 65 artworks reflecting a wide variety of themes, techniques and methods, the exhibition finds balance in the artists’ strong connection to tribal identity as well as his or her distinctly individual and cultural roots.

The exhibit is organized by concepts and subjects important to the artists, including personal and collective identities; seasonal and nature-related themes (including social and environmental dimensions of human relationships with the earth); place and belonging (including artists’ relationship to their current and historic homelands); as well as cross-cultural relationships and influences characteristic of the Chickasaw artists’ experience today.

“Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art” is made possible by a grant provided by the Chickasaw Nation and by support from The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.