Highlights from the Collections

Contemporary Indigenous Art Collection

These artworks are a sampling of some of the pieces found in the NYSM Collection of Contemporary Indigenous Art. The collection includes over 150 artworks by established and emerging Indigenous artists.  

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Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca) 
Untitled, quilled leather pouch, 2017
Smoke tanned leather, dyed and natural quills, glass seed beads, dyed white tailed deer hair, metal tinkler cones
NYSM Collection E-2018.29.1

Courtney Leonard (Shinnecock)
Matcik Way, 2005
Coiled, glazed ceramic
NYSM Collection E-2009.02 

Peter Jones (Onondaga)
Winter’s Stories, 1996  
Wolf Clan Singer, 1999–2000
Stoneware
NYSM Collection E-A96.1.23 and E-2000.10.01  

Angela Doxtater, Six Nations Mohawk
Cornhusk moccasins
NYSM Collection E-2022.01A-B

Shelley Niro (Mohawk, Six Nations)
Surrender Nothing Always, 2004
Photograph on canvas
NYSM Collection E-2017.62

Niio Perkins and Isabella Thompson, Akwesasne Mohawk
“She/Her”
NYSM Collection E-2019.05.1-4

Tohanash Tarrant, Shinnecock/Hopi/Ho-Chunk
Beaded graduation mortar board
NYSM Collection E-2019.22.01 A

Tohanash Tarrant, Shinnecock/Hopi/Ho-Chunk
Beaded medallion
NYSM Collection E-2019.22.02

Angela Doxtater, Six Nations Mohawk
The Most Beautiful Woman in the Village
Cornhusk dolls, beadwork
NYSM Collection E-2022.02

Leah Shenandoah (Oneida, NY/Haudenosaunee) 
“Bourgeoisie Turquoise Iroquois”, 2019
Resin, gold leaf, mixed metals and stones, metal chain
NYSM Collection E-2019.12.1

Brenda Hill (Tuscarora, Choctaw) 
Wampum pot from Honor Our Strings series, 2018
Porcelain, Quahog shell beads
NYSM Collection E-2018.11

Misti Moede (Stockbridge Munsee Mohican) 
Untitled, Many Trails symbol in paper, 2023
Paper
NYSM E-2024.09.3

Samuel Thomas (Lower Band of Cayuga, Six Nations) 
Untitled, beaded cushion with Calla Lillies, 2006
Velvet, glass beads
NYSM E-2020.04.1

Stanley Hill Sr. (Mohawk, Akwesasne) 
Untitled, Loon Comb, 1991
Moose antler, walnut wood base
NYSM Collection E-2019.10

Bruce Boots (Akwesasne Mohawk)
The Creation of the Iroquois Confederacy, 2016
Acrylic on canvas
NYSM Collection E-2017.61

Native American Archaeology

These artworks represent recent acquisitions to the NYSM Collection of Contemporary Native American Art. The collection includes over 150 artworks by established and emerging Indigenous artists.  

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Carved Bone comb (A74834), Boughton Hill site, Ontario County, 17th-century A.D.

Stemmed projectile point and oyster shell (A2020.10)
George's Island site, Westchester County, circa 6600-5500 years before present. 

Ground stone gorgets, used for personal adornment, circa 3300-500 years before present.
A: A2008.13B.99.7 (Bronx County)
B: A32591 (Onondaga County)
C: A28546 (Ontario County)
D: A31719 (Onondaga County)
E: A28396 (Ontario County)
F: A4255 (Chautauqua County)
 

Flaked stone projectile points (A2019,02.1), Columbia County
McVaugh Collection, circa 9000-1000 years before present.

Paleoindian flaked stone artifacts, Beardsley/Clymer Collection, OPS site, Madison County, circa 12,000 years before present.
A: Crowfield fluted point with tip damage (A2019.08B.169.1)
B: Endscraper (A2019.08B.166.1)
C: Hafted perforator (A2019.08B.197.1)
D: Flake graver (A2019.08B.171.1)
E: Side scraper (A2019.08B.163.1)

Paleoindian fluted point (A44042.4/13), West Athens Hill site, Greene County, circa 12,800 years before present.

Artist's concept, hafting fluted point as stone tip for hunting weaponry, circa 12,800 years before present.