The Denver Art Museum (DAM) proudly presents SUSTAINED! The Persistent Genius of Indigenous Art, an exploration of how Indigenous peoples’ resilience, diversity and creativity have sustained them, and a celebration of Indigenous contributions to the arts and the museum over the past 100 years.
Opening December 22 and on view through 2025, SUSTAINED! was developed in conjunction with a panel of seven Indigenous community members who, through a series of meetings, shared with the museum’s Native Arts curatorial team what type of exhibition would be meaningful to themselves and their communities.
SUSTAINED! investigates the ways in which Native people have been sustained by beauty, by connections, and by spirituality, tracing these themes through fashion, family, ancestors, and the reasons people gather, such as games, ceremonies and dance.
This exhibition combines historic and contemporary works from DAM’s permanent collection to show the resilience, diversity and creativity of Native people throughout time, reinforcing their continued relevance and innovation.
“Indigenous people have thrived regardless of the tumult and hardships they have faced throughout history and SUSTAINED! is our museum’s celebration of their resilience and strength, uplifting Native arts and cultures as living and flourishing, which is a priority for our museum and community,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the Denver Art Museum. “We look forward to presenting this compelling and boundary-pushing exhibition and welcoming our community to enjoy it and experience it throughout the year.”