Reinstall of the Indigenous American Art Galleries

Curated, designed and installed in the early 1990’s, what was previously known as the Arts of the Americas galleries occupies a large footprint on the 4th level of the Dallas Museum of Art. Painted in mysterious and dusty colors, the galleries presented a colonial and old-fashioned approach to what was perceived as dead cultures with only artifacts to be appreciated. With new approaches to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the refresh prioritizes communicating to visitors that the cultures represented in the galleries are alive and continuing to make art. New paint colors brighten the spaces and remove the mystery around the objects, while new bold and colorful graphic design elements provide a fresh feel and operate as wayfinding devices. Great consideration was devoted to new in-gallery activites, further inviting visitors to be active participants rather than passive viewers. Exisiting architectural elements were required to remain in-place, but fresh coats of paint in colors reflecting the various geographic regions liven the spaces and provide more clarity to the collection.

The refresh was undertaken in collaboration with a community Indigenous task force who counseled the museum team along the way, weighing in on in-gallery content and design concepts. Making sure the Museum understood the outward impacts of their decisions on the community, the Indigenous community in particular, was of key importance during this project.