The best place for anyone interested in Native American artwork to learn more about the field and build their collection is at one of the numerous Indian art markets held around the country each year. Attending Indian art markets allows guests to meet the artists in person, providing for the opportunity to acquire something more precious than objects – friendships.
Santa Fe Indian Market
The largest, oldest and most prestigious of all Indian art markets is the Santa Fe Indian Market hosted by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. The 100th edition of the SWAIA Indian Art Market, known simply as “Market” in the Native American art world, took place in 2022 and the event will be held August 19 and 20 in 2023.
Originally focused on the Indigenous art of the Southwest, the market has expanded its reach over the years to include Indigenous artists from all regions of the United States and Canada. Hundreds of artist booths are located around the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe with performances and satellite events taking place around town.
Santa Fe Indian Market’s Indigenous fashion show has become an especially anticipated part of the festivities.
I visited Santa Fe Indian Market for the first time in 2022.
RELATED: What to expect and how to act when visiting Indian Market.
Santa Fe Winter Market
A scaled-down version of SWAIA Indian Market in Santa Fe occurs late each November. More than 100 Native American artists have work for sale in booths, without the huge crowds, pomp and circumstance of Summer Market.
Native Treasures Art Market
Let’s stay in Santa Fe for the city’s big spring Indian art market, Native Treasures, hosted annually in late May at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. The 2023 edition occurs over Memorial Day.
Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market
Next in order of prestige and magnitude to SWAIA Indian art market is the one hosted annually by the Heard Museum in Phoenix. This premier event draws nearly 15,000 visitors and more than 600 of the Nation’s most preeminent American Indian artists.
The Heard Indian Fair and Market provides the opportunity to meet and purchase art directly from multiple generations of artists working in all forms of the visual arts. All proceeds from ticket sales support the Heard Museum’s mission of advancing American Indian art.
The 2023 event, the Heard’s 65th, took place March 4 and 5.
Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival
The most prestigious Indian art market taking place in the eastern United States occurs each June at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis.
The 31st annual edition takes place Saturday & Sunday June 24 & 25, 2023 at the museum in downtown.
Autry Museum American Indian Arts Marketplace
Held at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, visitors can celebrate contemporary and traditional Native art forms at the 31st annual American Indian Arts Marketplace by purchasing one-of-a-kind artwork, jewelry, and fashion, and attending live theatrical performances from Native Voices, the Autry’s resident theatre company.
The 2023 event at the Griffith Park location will take place June 10 and 11.
Cherokee Art Market
Cherokee Art Market hosted by the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma will take place October 14 and 15, 2023.
Colorado Indian Market and Southwest Art Fest
The 41st annual Colorado Indian Market and Southwest Art Fest was held January 20, 21, 2022, 2023, at the Colorado Springs Event Center.
Haskell Indian Art Market
The Haskell Indian Art Market is an annual event held during the 2nd weekend in September. Originally part of the Lawrence Indian Art Show, the Haskell Indian Art Market in Lawrence, Kansas is now a separate entity attracting hundreds of visitors each year.
The Market provides an economic opportunity for Native American artists as well as encouraging cross-cultural understanding and exchange.
Prescott Indian Art Market
Hosted by the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, AZ, The Prescott Indian Art Market features more than 100 Native American artists with musical performances, artist demonstrators and food vendors. Admission to the market includes access to all of Sharlot Hall Museum’s beautiful grounds, historic exhibits and buildings, including the territorial governor’s mansion.
The show is held each September with the 2023 event being held the 16th and 17th.
Woodland Indian Art Show and Market / Festival of Woodland Indian Art and Culture Show
Woodland Indian Art and its volunteers have produced the Woodland Indian Art Show and Market on the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin since 2006. The show is now being called The Festival of Woodland Indian Art and Culture Show.
The 2023 event will be held June 20-22 at the Menominee Casino Resort & Convention Center in Keshena, Wisconsin.
Northern Plains Indian Art Market
The Northern Plains Indian Art Market (NPIAM) was established in 1988 by American Indian Services, Inc., of Sioux Falls, SD, as the Northern Plains Tribal Arts Show (NPTA). Originally conceived as an economic development project–a marketplace where Native American artists could sell their artwork–the show has become a national staple in showcasing American Indian art of the northern plains. It is rated as one of the Top Ten Indian Art Markets in the country by Native Peoples Magazine.
To be eligible to enter the NPIAM a Native American artist must be an enrolled member of 1 of 23 tribes the show recognizes as “Northern Plains.” Artists from several plains tribes of Canada are also accepted.
The 2023 event will take place September 24 and 25.
Native Art Market at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
Both the Washington, D.C. and New York, NY locations of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian host Indian art markets the first weekend in December.
Red Earth Festival
The 37th Annual Red Earth Festival is a celebration of Native art and culture scheduled for June 1-3, 2023, at the National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City.
Indian art marketIndigenous art
By Chadd Scott
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