The Phoenix Art Museum is set to unveil an extraordinary collection of 100 artworks by Native American artists, marking the largest donation of its kind in the museum's history. This remarkable gift comprises 185 pieces that showcase the enduring creative spirit of Native American culture over the past century.
Among the artists featured are renowned figures such as Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Confederated Salish and Kootenai), Tony Abeyta (Diné), and his father Narciso Abeyta (Diné), along with T.C. Cannon (Kiowa and Caddo). This impressive collection was generously promised to the museum by William Healey, a prominent real estate developer and art collector.
In August, the museum will host an exhibition titled The Way We Came: A Century of Indigenous Art - The William P. Healey Collection, which will feature a selection from this significant donation. Tony Abeyta, a close friend of Healey, collaborated with curator JoAnna Reyes to co-curate the exhibition, ensuring a thoughtful presentation of the artworks.
During an interview, Abeyta shared that his journey with Healey began when the latter sought to create a collection that reflects the authentic narrative of American Indians, including the challenging history tied to forced assimilation boarding schools. The final collection encompasses works from 99 artists across 44 tribes.
"Art has always served as a powerful medium for storytelling," Abeyta emphasized. "It's crucial to recognize that Native American art has been contributing to the broader dialogue of contemporary art since long before 1974."
Abeyta's father, Narciso, who studied under Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School, had a significant career that included serving as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II. After a two-decade hiatus from painting, he returned to his craft, influenced by the Transcendental Painting Group artist Raymond Jonson, leading to a transformative period in his artistic expression.
Healey's recent contribution follows his earlier donation of 100 Native American studio artworks to the Saint Louis Art Museum in 2023. Abeyta hopes that visitors to the Phoenix Art Museum will appreciate how Native American art has consistently conveyed essential American stories, embodying themes of "survivance," a concept introduced by scholar Gerald Vizenor that encapsulates survival and resilience.
"We adapt and evolve continuously, influenced by technology, education, and the connections between tribes," Abeyta noted. "The overarching narrative is one of survivance, showcasing profound individual creativity."