The Bold Art of Jeffrey Gibson: A Queer Native American Voice

Jeffrey Gibson is a contemporary artist and member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians who has gained widespread recognition for his work in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation art. Gibson, who identifies as a queer person, often incorporates elements of his Native American heritage and experiences as an LGBTQ+ individual into his art, creating powerful and thought-provoking pieces that address identity, culture, and social justice issues.

‍
Gibson was born in 1972 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and grew up in a military family that moved frequently. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1994 and his Master of Fine Arts from Yale University in 2002.

‍
Since then, Gibson has exhibited his work in numerous galleries and museums around the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. His work has been featured in numerous publications, and he has received numerous awards and accolades for his art, including a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant.

‍
Gibson's art is often described as a mix of traditional Native American motifs and contemporary elements, and he often incorporates materials such as beaded leather, glass beads, and porcupine quills into his work. His pieces often address themes of cultural identity and the struggles of marginalized communities, and his work has been praised for its ability to spark important conversations about social justice issues.

Through his art, Gibson has become a powerful voice for Native American and LGBTQ+ communities, and his work continues to inspire and engage audiences around the world.

‍

Images courtesy of the artist