The de Young Museum in San Francisco is set to unveil its completely redesigned Native American art galleries on August 26, marking the completion of a years-long renovation project that prioritized Indigenous voices and perspectives. The ambitious overhaul was led by a team of predominantly Native curators who created a unique display that blends contemporary artworks with historical pieces, some of which date back more than 1,000 years.
The newly reimagined galleries, known as the Arts of Indigenous America galleries, showcase both recent acquisitions and specially commissioned works created specifically for this reopening. Thomas P. Campbell, director and chief executive of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, which oversees both the de Young and Legion of Honor museums, emphasized the institution's commitment to collaboration. "The re-conceived Arts of Indigenous America galleries embody our ongoing commitment to building lasting collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities to better care for and share our collections," Campbell stated.
Campbell also highlighted the significance of the San Francisco Bay Area's role in Indigenous activism, noting that "the Bay Area has long been an axis for Indigenous activism, and we are proud that this project honors that legacy by centering the voices of our Indigenous partners." The new installation replaces a Native American art exhibition that had been on display since 2017.
The renovation was spearheaded by five curators: Joseph Aguilar, Meyokeeskow Marrufo, Hillary C. Olcott, Will Riding In, and Sherrie Smith-Ferri, who worked alongside an advisory group to completely reimagine two galleries. Hillary C. Olcott explained their collaborative approach, stating, "We have opted for a multi-vocal interpretative framework instead of a single curatorial perspective. Our hope is that this will bring a liveliness to the galleries and will re-center people within the stories of this art."
One of the newly reinstalled galleries specifically focuses on Native California, featuring rotating exhibits that highlight particular geographical regions. The inaugural rotation zooms in on the Hupa, Karuk, Tolowa, Wiyot, and Yurok communities of northwestern California, and this display will remain on view until December 6, 2026. The second gallery takes a broader approach, encompassing all of North America in its scope.
The galleries feature an impressive array of artistic mediums, including ceramics, textiles, paintings, beadwork, carvings, works on paper, and basketry, all arranged thematically. Special commissions by contemporary artists Melissa Cody and Cannupa Hanska Luger are prominently featured alongside other contemporary works, creating a dialogue between past and present artistic traditions.
In a significant departure from past practices, the museum made direct contact with the communities from which the historical pieces originated, seeking permission to display these artifacts. This consultation process, which is now required under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, also involved inviting community members to provide input on how their cultural items should be interpreted and presented to the public.
The renovation extended beyond just the two main galleries, as the museum also refreshed the two remaining Arts of Indigenous America galleries at the de Young. These spaces are dedicated to Ancestral Maya art and mural fragments from Teotihuacan, ensuring that the museum's entire Indigenous art collection benefits from updated presentations and interpretations.
To celebrate the reopening, the de Young Museum will present its first solo exhibition by a contemporary Indigenous artist, featuring Rose B. Simpson in "Lexicon," which will run from August 30, 2024, through August 2, 2026. Additionally, the museum is planning a free, daylong opening celebration for the new galleries on September 13, providing the community with an opportunity to experience these reimagined spaces and engage with the cultural narratives they present.
