Radical Stitch Exhibition of Native Bead Art Opens April 12 at Eiteljorg

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art will present Radical Stitch, one of the largest exhibitions of contemporary Native bead art ever showcased in North America. Featuring approximately 100 works, the exhibition highlights intricate techniques and powerful designs that tell stories and address pressing issues.

Opening April 12 and running through August 3, Radical Stitch is a traveling exhibition organized by the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Eiteljorg will be its only U.S. stop, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience breathtaking bead art created by Native American, First Nations, and Indigenous artists.

Glass beads, introduced to North America in the early 1800s through trade, became a dynamic medium for generations of Native artists. Over time, beadwork evolved beyond textile adornment into a form of artistic expression that blends cultural traditions with contemporary themes. The exhibition’s co-curators have selected pieces that explore pop culture references, food sovereignty, and Indigenous Futurism — a genre that reimagines the past, present, and future through a speculative, often sci-fi-inspired lens.

“The artworks in this exhibition hold a visual potency that’s impossible to capture in a photograph. When viewed in person, the meticulous details and shimmering surfaces are dazzling — and they reveal powerful connections to both global exchange and cultural resilience,” said Laura Fry, Eiteljorg vice president for curatorial affairs and collections.

The artists featured in Radical Stitch represent diverse geographies and life experiences that shape their beadwork practices. Seven of the participating artists are past recipients of the Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship, and the museum holds additional examples of their work in its permanent collection.

Not only is the scope of the Radical Stitch exhibition impressive, but the Eiteljorg will offer several public programs that visitors will find engaging:

• Thursday April 10, 1-3 p.m.: Meet-and-greet with two of the artists in the exhibition; included with regular museum admission.

• Friday April 11, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: Members-only opening celebration, including an opportunity to meet and talk with curators and featured artists; contact kandrews@eiteljorg.com to register.

• Saturday April 12: Opening day events, all included with museum admission:

o   10:30 a.m. to noon – A public gallery talk will be led by Eiteljorg Curator of Native American Art Dorene Red Cloud (Oglala Lakota); the co-curators of Radical Stitch, Michelle LaVallee (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Ojibway), Cathy Mattes (Michif [Métis]), and Sherry Farrell Racette (Timiskaming First Nation Métis); and three of the artists whose work is on view, Nico Williams (Aamjiwnaang First Nation Anishinaabe), Audie Murray (Cree / Métis), and Catherine Blackburn (English River First Nation Dene).

o   1:30-3 p.m. -- Panel discussion: Resisting While Transforming: Join Radical Stitch artists and curators as they discuss the transformative power of beadwork.

o   3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Artist demonstration of bead art. 

The Eiteljorg’s presentation of Radical Stitch is sponsored locally by Avis Foundation, Capital Group, the Braitman Family, the Frenzel Family Foundation, and the Ann W. King Fund, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation. Additional support comes from the Native Arts + Cultures Foundation, and the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit.

Organized and circulated by the MacKenzie Art Gallery, Radical Stitch is supported in part by the Canada Council for the Arts. The MacKenzie receives ongoing support from the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, SaskCulture, City of Regina, University of Regina, and Saskatchewan Arts Board.

photo by Don Hall