Native American Art Collection

Selections from the Nerman Museum's permanent collection are on display in several designated museum galleries and within various special exhibitions. With nearly 400 works of art on permanent display across campus, the college demonstrates the philosophy of “living with art” through a series of media focus areas designed to facilitate interaction with art on a daily basis.

Native American and Indigenous Canadian artists are an integral part of our contemporary culture. While they may work in traditional media such as pottery, beadwork, jewelry, or weaving, the works they create are informed by the times in which they live. A number of artists represented in the collection have studied at Yale, UCLA, the Art Institute of Chicago, IAIA, etc. but chose to return to their respective communities to work in traditional mediums and art forms passed down generationally. Many of the pieces reflect a utilitarian origin, as expressed through form or material usage. Ultimately, the JCCC/museum collections and installations showcase the importance, continuity, and innovations of contemporary Native American and Indigenous Canadian works of art. These artist's contributions are extraordinary, and we have sought to represent them within our collections on campus and within the Nerman Museum.

- Bruce Hartman, founding Executive Director (retired), Nerman Museum