Biography

Nicholas Galanin is a native Alaskan artist of Lingít and Unangax̂ ancestry. His multidisciplinary practice blends traditional and contemporary art forms to explore the complexities of Indigenous identity, the impact of colonialism, and cultural memory. Galanin works across sculpture, photography, performance, textiles, film, and works on paper, building upon Indigenous artistic traditions while imagining new futures. His practice is intrinsically connected to his culture, land, and history, celebrating the resilience of his people. Notable exhibitions include Exist in the Width of a Knife's Edge, Baltimore Museum of Art (2024); Interference Patterns, SITE SANTA FE (2023); and The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (2023). His work is in major public collections, including Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and Seattle Art Museum. Galanin holds a BFA in Jewelry Design from London Guildhall University (2003) and an MFA in Indigenous Visual Arts from Massey University, New Zealand (2007).