“In the historical absence of written language, art is where the underpinning of tribal thought and values are encrypted.” — Arthur Amiotte (2014), from the exhibition catalogue for The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky.
Human Effigy Pipe, 100 B.C. – A.D. 100, Adena or Hopewell artist, Adena Mound, Ross County (Ohio)
The Hero Redhorn or Morningstar, Human Effigy Pipe, 1100 – 1200, Mississippian artist, Spiro Mound, Le Flore County (Oklahoma)
Human Effigy, 18th century, Southeastern Plains artist
Detail: The Grand Robe, c. 1800-1830, Central Plains artists
Oak’s shield, c. 1780, Northern Cheyenne artist, Wyoming
Installation view
Robe with Mythic Bird, c. 1700 – 1740, Eastern Plains artist, probably Illinois, Mid-Mississippi River basin
Detail: Robe with Mythic Bird
Left: Feather headdress, second half of the 18th century, Eastern Plains or Western great Lakes. Right: Horned Headdress, c. 1780, Eastern Plains artists, Lower Missouri River Region
Installation view
Top: Calumet stem and pipe bowl, c.1780-1830, Upper Missouri River region artists. Right: Pipe stem, c. 1800-1825, Eastern Plains or Great Lakes artists
Top: Pipe Stem, c. 1800 – 1820, Santee Dakota (Eastern Sioux) artist, Minnesota. Left: Pipe Bowl, c. 1800 – 1820, Western Great Lakes or Eastern Plains artist. Center: Pipe Bowl, c. 1830, Santee Dakota (Eastern Sioux) artist, Minnesota. Right: Pipe Bowl, c. 1820, Skiri Pawnee artist, Nebraska
Woman’s Dress, c. 1855, Central Plains artist, probably Lakota
Man’s Shirt, 1865, Oglala Lakota (Teton Sioux) artists, South Dakota
Man’s Moccasins, c. 1850, Upper Missouri River Region artist, probably Lakota (Teton Sioux)
Feather Headdress, c. 1865, Oglala Lakota (Teton Sioux) artists, North or South Dakota
Detail: Feather Headdress
Front: Courting Whistle, c. 1830, Santee Dakota (Eastern Sioux) artist, Minnesota. Top: Turban Headdress, c. 1830, Kitkahanhki Pawnee artist, Nebraska. Left: Roach spreader, c. 1830, Santee Dakota (Eastern Sioux) artist, Minnesota
Horse Effigy, c. 1880, Hunkpapa Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, Standing Rock Reservation (North or South Dakota)
Horse Mask, 19th century, Blackfeet
Robe, c. 1865, Northern Arapaho artist, Colorado
Installation view
Man’s Shirt, c. 1880, Blackfeet artist
Bow case and quiver, c. 1875, Crow artist, Montana
Front: Pipe Bowl and Stem, c. 1875, Probably Osage artist, Oklahoma. Right: Pipe Bowl, c. 1875, Cheyenne artist, Wyoming or Oklahoma
Pipe Bowl, c. 1870, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Center: Parfleche Envelopes, c. 1900 – 1910, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota. Right: Parfleche Box, c. 1889, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Doll, c. 1880, Northern Cheyenne artists, Wyoming
Girl’s Belt Set, c. 1884, Southern Cheyenne artist, Oklahoma
Calendar, c. 1905-1906, Silver Horn, Haungooah (1860 – 1940), Oklahoma
Calendar, c. 1905-1906, Silver Horn, Haungooah (1860 – 1940), Oklahoma
The Kiowa Pantheon, 1904, Silver Horn, Haungooah (1860 – 1940), Kiowa, Oklahoma
Ghost Dance Dress, c. 1890, Southern Arapaho artist, Oklahoma
Detail: Ghost Dance Dress
Left: Man’s Vest, c. 1890. Probably Oglala Lakota (Teton Sioux) artists, Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota
Cradleboard, c. 1890, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Peyote Fan, c. 1945, Kiowa artist, Oklahoma
Woman’s Dress, c. 1900, Dakota (Eastern Sioux), Yanktonai or Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, Fort Peck Reservation (Montana)
Horse Mask, c. 1900, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Right: Valise, 1903, Nellie Two Bear Gates, Mahpiya Bogawin, Gathering of Clouds Woman (1854-?), Lakota (Teton Sioux), Standing Rock Reservation (North and South Dakota)
Woman’s Shoes, c. 1920, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Man’s Coat, c. 1920, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Feather Headdress, c. 1925, Lakota (Teton Sioux) artist, North or South Dakota
Detail: Feather Headdress
Last Lakota Horse Raid, 1991, Rhonda Holy Bear, Wakah Wayuphika Win, Making Beauty with Exceptional Skills Woman (1959 -), Sans Arc, Two Kettle and Hunkpapa Lakota (Teton Sioux), Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Reservations (North and South Dakota)
Woman’s Dress and Accessories, 2005, Jodi Gillette (1959-), Hunkpapa Lakota (Teton Sioux), North Dakota
War Shirt #1, from Modern Warrior series, 1998, Bently Spang
Installation view
Horseshoes, 2014, Jamie Okuma, Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock
Photographs by Corrado Serra