This exhibition, curated by the renowned artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation), provides a provocative survey of contemporary Native American art across media. A prolific curator, Quick-to-See Smith has curated over 30 shows, including The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C (2023). Indigenous Identities features 97 living artists that represent over 74 Indigenous nations and communities from across North America and includes painting, works on paper, photography, ceramics, beadwork, weaving, sculpture, installation, and video.  

Featuring 103 works made within the last fifty years by both well-established artists and recent MFA graduates, the exhibition crosses several generations and examines themes with historic and continuing relevance to Indigenous communities in the United States including stolen lands, genocide, lost languages and cultures, and invisibility. A celebration of Indigenous survivance, resistance, and community, the exhibition provides a provocative and visually stunning view of contemporary art.

The artists in the exhibition include: Tony Abeyta, Norman Akers, George Alexander, Neal Ambrose-Smith, Keri Ataumbi, Joe Baker, Natalie Ball, Jamison Chas Banks, Marwin Begaye, Frank Big Bear, Roy Bigcrane and Thompson Smith, Jackie Larson Bread, Julie Buffalohead, Esteban Cabeza de Baca, Andrea Carlson, Nanibah “Nani” Chacon, Raven Chacon, Corwin Clairmont, Jason Clark, Gerald Clarke Jr., Lorenzo Clayton, Jordan Ann Craig, Jeremy Dennis, Demian DinéYazhi', Carly Feddersen, Joe Feddersen, RYAN! Feddersen, Kelly Frye, Nicholas Galanin, Jeffrey Gibson, Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich, Richard Glazer-Danay, Bryson Goodrunner Meyers, Tomahawk Greyeyes, Raven Half Moon, Bob Haozous, Edgar Heap of Birds, Luzene Hill, John Hitchcock, Anna Hoover, Sky Hopinka, Norma Howard, Patrick Dean Hubbell, G. Peter Jemison, Chaz John, Emily Johnson, Tom Jones, Brad Kalhamer, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Linda King, Terran Last Gun, Athena LaTocha, James Lavadour, Linda Lomahaftewa, George Longfish, Judith Lowry, Mario Martinez, Michael McCabe, Da-ka-xeen Mehner, Alan Michelson, Douglas Miles, Dan Namingha, Michael Namingha, Nora Naranjo-Morse, Native Art Department International, New Red Order, Laura Ortman and Nanobah Becker, Chris Pappan, Mikayla Patton, Wade Patton, Grace Rosario Perkins, Luanne Redeye, Wendy Red Star, Cara Romero, Diego Romero, Sarah Sense, Rose B. Simpson, Philip Singer, Ryan Singer, Duane Slick, Bently Spang, Roxanne Swentzell, Tyrell Tapaha, Charlene Teters, Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie, Zoë Urness, Jeffrey Veregge, Darren Vigil Gray, Kay WalkingStick, Star WallowingBull, Marie Watt, Emmi Whitehorse, Holly Wilson, Will Wilson, Melanie Yazzie.

Organized by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, artist and curator.

The exhibition, publication, and correlating public programs are supported by National Endowment for the Arts, Nissan Foundation, the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund, and Rutgers University. Additional support is provided by donors to Zimmerli's Major Exhibitions Fund: Kathrin and James Bergin, Sundaa and Randy Jones, and Heena and Hemanshu Pandya.

Generous support for bilingual text was provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

The Zimmerli’s operations, exhibitions and programs are funded in part by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and income from the Avenir Endowment Fund and the Andrew W. Mellon Endowment Fund, among others. Additional support comes from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the donors, members, and friends of the museum.