Nicholas Galanin Awarded Don Tyson Prize
Nicholas Galanin has been awarded the prestigious biennial Don Tyson Prize for his contributions to American art, focusing on Indigenous identity, culture, and representation, which comes with a $200,000 reward.
Established in 2016 by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas to commemorate the late Don Tyson; the former chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods; the award promotes awareness, challenges existing views, and improves accessibility in the arts. Notable past recipients include photographer and historian Deborah Willis (2022), the Houston-based group Project Row Houses (2020), citizen artist Vanessa German (2018), who combines art and social advocacy, and the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (2016).
Galanin on Receiving the Don Tyson Prize
On this honour, Nicholas Galanin states, “Receiving the Don Tyson Prize is a profound honour. My work seeks to disrupt colonial frameworks while celebrating Indigenous presence, knowledge, and creativity. This recognition fuels my ongoing efforts to create art that sparks dialogue, reclaims narratives, and envisions a future where culture, land, and identity are protected and celebrated. Especially coming from an Indigenous community where a lot of our work, creators, and voices have historically been erased or silenced in these spaces.”
Nicholas Galanin’s Art Style
Galanin, an artist of Tlingít and Unangax̂ heritage from Sitka, Alaska began learning jewellery-making and carving at 14, guided by his father and grandfather. He pursued a BFA at London Guildhall University (2003) and an MFA at Massey University (2007) in New Zealand. His artwork merges traditional Tlingit techniques with modern practices to critique colonialism and environmentalism while celebrating Indigenous culture. His large-scale work ‘Seletega (run, see if people are coming/corre a ver si viene gente)’ was recently showcased near the Faena Hotel during Miami Art Week.
Galanin merges sculpture, video, performance, music, and craft practices. He is also a musician, who with his band, Ya Tseen, investigates themes of Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
His works have been featured in solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions in Baltimore, Santa Fe, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, and more. Nicholas Galanin’s artwork stands against the misappropriation of Indigenous visual culture. At present, he is represented by the Peter Blum Gallery in New York. Galanin also received a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship.
Olivia Tyson on Galanin’s Work
“Nicholas Galanin’s work is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs, and deep connection to the land of Indigenous peoples. We are inspired by his talent and are thrilled to award him with the fifth Don Tyson Prize. He’s a bold artist who creates thought-provoking work. Nicholas has impacted the field through innovation, creative thinking, and risk-taking.”
What Does the Future Hold for Galanin
Nicholas Galanin shared that he might use the funds to improve his “brutal” journey back to Sitka, Alaska. He also mentioned that the money would support research, materials, and other living costs, including college tuition for two of his six children.
His latest creation, a monumental bronze sculpture with a wingspan of 9 ft is set to premiere at the museum in 2026 as part of its reinstallation and expansion. In March, Galanin will visit Crystal Bridges to collaborate with the museum on finalizing the placement.
Austen Bailey on Selecting Galanin for the Don Tyson Prize
Austen Bailey, the chief curator at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville speaks, “Nicholas is interested in expressing Indigenous identity. We chose him because his work is expanding how we look at, think about, and experience American art.”
Nicholas Galanin’s Journey with The Crystal Bridges Museum
Galanin’s work was first recognized by Crystal Bridges in 2018 during the exhibition ‘Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now,’ which was the museum’s premier significant display of Indigenous art. The Crystal Bridges Museum acquired two works by Galanin this year and received another as a gift.
The museum’s upcoming 114,000 square feet expansion, designed by Safdie Architects will showcase these new acquisitions — ‘I think it goes like this (memory and interference)’ (2024) and ‘White Noise, American Prayer Rug’ (2018). As pointed out by Olivia Walton. “These artworks will feature prominently in our reinstallation and expansion, underscoring Nicholas’s influence on contemporary art and important role in the ever-broadening American art story.”
Image Courtesy – KCAW
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