"Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting" Exhibit

Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting explores how Native artists challenged perceptions of what constituted art and what Native art could and should look like. Featuring more than 50 works by 46 artists, this exhibition tells the story of how American Indian art expanded after World War I and how Native painters began to advocate for themselves in a world that often ignored or misrepresented their work. The show includes works by artists such as James Lavadour, whose untitled acrylic painting of horses in motion was purchased by the museum in 2023.

When: Opening May 15, 2026, and on view through Spring 2027. The exhibition is housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Tickets: Free admission. No ticket required, but museum entry may have standard timed-entry or reservation policies; check the museum website for current procedures.

Lineup: More than 50 works by 46 Native artists spanning ten decades, from the post–World War I era to the present. Not all artists are listed in the provided text, but James Lavadour is explicitly named.

Run time: The exhibition is ongoing; no specific run time for a single visit, but plan at least one to two hours to view the works.

Ages: All ages welcome.

Venue: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.

Note: The exhibition challenges traditional art-world categories, showing how Native painters expanded the definition of Native art and asserted their own creative authority. The museum's press release underscores that the show explores how these artists challenged perceptions and advocated for themselves.