Modernist Activities and Native Acts in and around Northern New Mexico

Indigenous artists in Northern New Mexico, including Maria Martínez (San Ildefonso Pueblo), Lynn Riggs (Cherokee), and Tony Luján (Taos Pueblo), were not mere subjects of Anglo-European modernism but active participants who strategically engaged with modernist practices between 1887 and 1934. They adapted traditional artistic forms, navigated complex markets, and capitalized on tourism and real estate opportunities, demonstrating how Indigenous individuals leveraged modernity for personal and collective benefit. This study highlights their dynamic roles in the transition to New Mexican statehood while challenging conventional narratives of modernism.

Gano, G. M. (2022). Modernist Activities and Native Acts in and around Northern New Mexico. The Routledge Handbook of North American Indigenous Modernisms, 29–43. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003030485-4