When we come across Native American art, we’re not just taking time to appreciate beautiful craftsmanship from a bygone era; we’re looking at the embodiment of spiritual connections, cultural identity, and traditions spanning over 13,000 years of human existence.
The term “Native American art” may seem straightforward, but it includes a range of creations from hundreds of diverse tribes and nations – each with their own unique artistic expressions that reflect their cultural heritage and relationship with the land.
When we think about Native American art, we should first recognize that many objects created by Indigenous peoples were never intended to be viewed through the Western concept of “art”.
Instead, they serve purposes beyond aesthetics – spiritual to communal – and are often inseparable from cultural practices. This is why many scholars now refer to these pieces as “Indigenious visual culture,” which views these artistic expressions as parts of life that can’t be separated from tribal identity.
Understanding Native American Art in Context
Unlike Western art traditions that often celebrate individual expression, Native American art is believed to have been a collective experience.
They reflected a place as much as they did a shared experience and value. Artists often used materials readily available in their natural surroundings, and these creations allow us to look back at the world as the people saw it then.
Color and Symbolism
Colors and rich symbolism can be found throughout various types of Native American art.
However, the colors often change meaning from tribe to tribe, showing just how diverse the Native American people were. Some colors may have represented cardinal directions, while others could relate to gender, life stages, or natural elements.
Geometric Patterns
Another key characteristic of indigenous art is geometric shapes and patterns. These are often found in various mediums – from pottery to textiles – and often held deep cultural or spiritual significance when included. Again, these meanings may change from region to region.
How Did Colonization & Forced Assimilation Impact Native American Art?
During the 19th and 20th centuries, many artifacts were stolen or damaged during trade voyages and the US government’s assimilation policies. These often deprived Indigenous people of their languages, religions, and lands – which ultimately disrupted their artistic traditions.
What Are The Various Types of Native American Art?
Paintings and Visual Records
Perhaps the earliest type of Native American art used paint and other materials to tell stories.
Petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) have been discovered dating back to nearly 3000 BCE – showing that early people used pigments from the natural environment to create symbols and tell stories with impressive artistic style.
Native American painting grew throughout history, including buffalo hide, sand painting, and ledger art. Each evolution in the style and purpose of Native American painting and visual art showcased the growth of tribes and families – and often held both deep spiritual meaning and practical uses (such as ledger art for recording events and interactions with settlers).
Pottery
Native American pottery may represent one of the oldest and most enduring art forms – with a history spanning an incredible 4,500 years. The Zuni, Hopi, and Anasazi originally created pottery for practical cooking and storage purposes, but it naturally became a canvas for their cultural expression.
Perhaps the most well-known type of pottery is Pueblo Indian pottery. This type of pottery includes endless variations of texture, color, and form, showing the diversity across Pueblo cultures.
The pottery creation process is incredibly spiritual. Potters often gather materials from their local environment – clay from specific sites and natural pigments from rocks or plants – and use gourds and stones for shaping and polishing. The process was intricate and has been passed down through generations.
Perhaps the most celebrated figure in Native American potteris is Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo, who in the early 20th century perfected a distinctive black-on-black style that brought new interest into traditional ceramics.
Weaving and Textiles
Another popular style of Native American art is weaving and textile work – art that dates back at least 1,300 years. The Pueblo and Navajo people led the way with intricate weaving and textile work, including rugs, blankets, baskets, and more.
The Navajo – now famous for their magnificent rugs and blankets – are believed to have learned weaving from the Pueblo. The textiles feature geometric designs that are believed to have promoted balance and harmony, which were core values in the Navajo culture.
The Navajo weaving and textile work was so impressive that many European settlers traded with the people to gain access to the unique art pieces – which then influenced the styles of their home countries as well.
Beadwork and Quillwork
Quillwork might be one of the oldest and most distinctive Native American art forms and was particularly popular among the tribes of the Great Plains and upper Midwest. This technique involved softening, flattening, and dyeing porcupine quills to stitch into clothing and other items.
This process was intensive, often practiced exclusively by women who used mineral and vegetable dyes to create vivid colors and patterns. Traditional designs were often geometric and could also be found in ceremonial dress.
As contact with settlers increased, beadwork also began to increase in popularity. Beadwork eventually became so integral to Native American culture that many consider it sacred, with strict protocols involved in working with beads.
You can often see elaborate beadwork and quillwork represented in clothing worn at powwows, often representing tribal affiliations, family histories, and ancestral connections.
Wood Carving and Sculpture
No retrospective on Native American art would be complete without looking at wood carvings and sculptures. Popular among the tribes of the Pacific Northwest (where cedar trees provided ideal carving material), this art style led to the iconic totem poles and Kachina dolls that are revered today.
Towering totem poles served as community storytellers – with intricate carvings that recorded family histories, lineages, and significant events in the people's lives. Each figure carved into the poles held meaning, and the poles were often built and placed in specific spots to be visible to all.
The Kachina dolls of the Hopi and Zuni were another wood carving feat. These dolls were carved carefully from wood to represent figures from religion and culture – and were often painted and used to teach about religions and cosmology. With over 400 different Kachina in Hopi and Pueblo culture, these carvings represent a world of complex spirituality.
Supporting & Appreciating A Legacy of Native American Art
Native American art represents more than just beautiful iconography – it showcases the resilience and adaptability of Indigenous peoples. The artistic traditions have survived centuries of challenge, and now we have the unique privilege to appreciate and reflect on them today!
When looking to appreciate and support Native American art, always remember the protections and legality surrounding the art. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act makes it illegal to sell non-Native American-made items as Native American-made, and all dealers should provide written proof of authenticity when dealing with pieces.
It’s also essential to respect the history of these pieces – avoiding cultural appropriation and seeking to learn more about the people and histories behind different types of art.
When we can appreciate Native American art on its own terms, we can gain insight into the diversity and wisdom of America’s first peoples – lessons that can help us care for one another more creatively today!
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By choosing to support Native artists directly, you help preserve these rich artistic traditions for future generations!
