Not Your Mama’s Indian Art

A group of artists challenges stereotypes—and has a little fun—in a new show, Native Pop, at the Paseo Plunge gallery in Oklahoma City.

Artwork by Brent Learned (Cheyenne/Arapaho).

IF YOU GO
What: Native Pop
When: July 1-28
Where: Paseo Plunge
3010 Paseo
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
405/315-6224

They’re Indigenous artists known for using more than just bright colors or a splash of whimsy in their creations. 

The 11 artists featured in the Paseo Plunge gallery this July are all committed to representing Native people in unique—and accurate—ways. More than that, however, these artists are impacting audiences through popular (pop) culture. 

, a show that the organizers say is a mix of Native cultures meets Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, features the work of (Pyramid Lake Paiute), (Pawnee/Yakama), (Seminole/Creek/Kiowa),  (Navajo/Euchee/Creek/Seminole), (Comanche/Kiowa), (Muscogee Creek), (Kiowa/Choctaw), (Cheyenne/Arapaho), (Northern Arapaho/Seneca),  (Osage) and (Jemez Pueblo/Korean). 

The artists are known for a variety of work, including murals, film, photography, fashion and more.

“It’s not the quote-unquote ‘Indian art’ most collectors think of,” says Learned, an Oklahoma-based painter and sculptor who helped organize the show and bring together the artists. Learned’s pieces typically include bright, bold colors combined with a rustic, impressionistic style. “Native American artwork is always evolving. As we change, so do our cultures and so does our art. This show is a reflection on all of that.”

Artwork by (Pyramid Lake Paiute)

The show will kick off at Paseo Plunge in Oklahoma City for a month-long run beginning Friday, July 1. The hope is to turn Native Pop into an annual exhibit, says Charles Martin (Comanche), the building manager of Paseo Plunge.

“Because we’re in Oklahoma, and because of our unique history as a state, we have more exposure to Native American art than other parts of country. Part of that is we want to use this … to explore the breadth of Native American art, from the really traditional to the far edges of the art realm,” Martin says. “It’s showing that there’s just as much diversity in the Native American art world as there is in the art world in general.”

Yepa-Pappan, known for her mixed-media art melding historical photos with iconic pop images, such as TARDIS from the Doctor Who TV series, says more exhibits showcasing diverse art forms are needed.

 Artwork by  (Jemez Pueblo/Korean)

“I think we should get to the point where it’s the norm, where we don’t have to label it ‘Native’ pop art, but simply pop art—or just art,” says Yepa-Pappan, who lives in Chicago. “It’s always important to get across that we’re just as much a part of today’s world as everyone else is. It’s also important to emphasize that we like the same things everybody else does. Maybe we’re connected to certain things because of our backgrounds, cultures and traditions, but that doesn’t mean we can’t relate or identify with pop culture.” 

The Arizona-based Hopkins says he’s excited to participate in a show bringing contemporary mediums into the limelight. As an artist who blends past and present styles through a range of formats, including graphic design, paint, video and more, Hopkins says this show is simply the latest in an ongoing movement to legitimize all forms of Native artwork.

“It’s not just landscapes and earth tones anymore,” says Hopkins, who has created a fun series of pieces indigenizing pop-culture icons like Star Wars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, among other works. He says Native Pop is “the expansion of exploring other mediums of expression and creativity while keeping within the traditional subject matter. … We are limitless [as] to what we can create.”

Artwork by Joseph Hopkins (Muscogee Creek)

Native Pop runs through Thursday, July 28. It’s part of Paseo Plunge’s new series, What Is Native, which will include another art exhibit launching in October, followed by a solo show featuring the works of the late T.C. Cannon (Kiowa/Caddo). For more information, visit www.paseoplunge.com.