Nicholas Galanin. Photo by Ben Huff for The New York Times
Examining the complexities of contemporary Indigenous identity, culture, and representation, Nicholas Galanin works from his experience as a Lingít and Unangax artist. Embedding incisive observation and reflection into his oftentimes provocative work, he aims to redress the widespread misappropriation of Indigenous visual culture, the impact of colonialism, as well as collective amnesia. Galanin reclaims narrative and creative agency, while demonstrating contemporary Indigenous art as a continually evolving practice. Speaking through multiple visual, sonic, and tactile languages, his concepts determine his processes, which include sculpture, installation, photography, video, performance, and textile-based work. This contemporary practice builds upon an Indigenous artistic continuum while celebrating the culture and its people; Galanin contributes urgent criticality and vision through resonant and multifaceted works.
Nicholas Galanin (b. 1979) lives and works in Sheet’ka (Sitka), Alaska. He earned a BFA at LondonGuildhall University (2003), an MFA at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand (2007), and apprenticed with master carvers and jewelers. Solo institutional exhibitions include Baltimore Museum of Art (2024-25); SITE Santa Fe (2023); and New York Public Art Fund (2023). Galanin participated in Public Art Abu Dhabi (2024-25); Boston Triennial (2025); Toronto Biennial (2024); Liverpool Biennial (2023); Desert X, Palm Springs (2021); Biennale of Sydney (2020); and the Whitney Biennial, New York (2019). Permanent collections include The Museum of Modern Art, NY; Whitney Museum of American Art, NY; Detroit Institute of Arts, MI; Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA; Art Institute of Chicago, IL; The Phillips Collection, DC; The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LA; Brooklyn Museum, NY; Cleveland Museum of Arts, OH; among others. He has received Don Tyson Award (2025); Guggenheim Fellowship (2024); Pollock Krasner Grant (2023); Soros Art Fellowship (2020); American Academy of Arts and Letters (2020).