Nicholas Galanin

Lingít and Unangax̂, born 1979

BirthplaceSitka, Alaska, United States

BiographyExamining the complexities of contemporary Indigenous identity, culture, and representation, Nicholas Galanin works from his experience as a Lingít and Unangax̂ artist. Embedding incisive observation and reflection into his oftentimes provocative work, he aims to redress the widespread misappropriation of Indigenous visual culture, the impact of colonialism, as well as collective amnesia. Galanin reclaims narrative and creative agency, while demonstrating contemporary Indigenous art as a continually evolving practice. Speaking through multiple visual, sonic, and tactile languages, his concepts determine his processes, which include sculpture, installation, photography, video, performance, and textile-based work. This contemporary practice builds upon an Indigenous artistic continuum while celebrating the culture and its people; Galanin contributes urgent criticality and vision through resonant and multifaceted works.

Nicholas Galanin (b. 1979, Sheet’ka (Sitka), Alaska) lives and works with his partner Merritt Johnson and their children in Sheet’ka (Sitka), Alaska. He earned a BFA at London Guildhall University (2003), an MFA at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand (2007). Solo institutional exhibitions include Baltimore Museum of Art (2024-25); SITE Santa Fe (2023); and New York Public Art Fund (2023). Public collections include Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY; and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA.

[Retrieved 12/17/24 from https://www.peterblumgallery.com/artists/nicholas-galanin/biography]

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