Action Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art

The first appraisal of modern Native American abstraction, merging abstract expressionism, color field and hard-edge painting with Native American art

The volume features paintings and works on paper from the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts’ (MoCNA) collection, created in the 1960s and 1970s. These artists challenged stereotypical expectations of Indian art by experimenting with New York School abstraction combined with art influences from their own cultural heritage. This departure, supported by the groundbreaking art education philosophy at IAIA, revolutionized the Native American art world.

Artists include: Ray Aguilar, Ralph Aragon, Sammy Begay, Larry (Littlebird) Bird, Earl Biss, Bennet Brien, Bennie Buffalo, George Burdeau, T.C. Cannon, Art Chischilly, Joseph L. Concha, Larry Desjarlais, Joe Dudley, Earl Eder, Mary Eder, Kirby Feathers, Anita (Luttrell) Fields, Phyllis Fife, Herman Fragua, Henry (Hank) Gobin, John Gritts, Harvey Herman, Patrick Swazo Hinds, John Hoover, Michael Jenkins, Peter B. Jones, Ralph Robert Kniffen, Delores Lee, Alice Loiselle, Linda Lomaheftawa, Linda Lucero, Edna Massey and more.