Robert Draws – Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, an iconic Native American artist and activist, passed away on January 24, 2025, after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 85 years old. Known for her impactful art that critiqued mainstream Americana and shed light on the darker aspects of U.S. history, Smith’s work served as both a powerful commentary on the history and ongoing struggles of Native Americans. As a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, Smith used her art to subvert stereotypes, confront racism, and challenge the erasure of Indigenous peoples’ presence and experiences in mainstream narratives.
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s work was deeply intertwined with her identity as a Native American woman. It was shaped by her unique perspective on U.S. history. Her art, spanning paintings, sculptures, prints, and collages, boldly critiqued the images and symbols of American culture, often subverting the iconic imagery of the U.S. flag, maps, and advertisements. By appropriating and re-contextualizing the work of famous American artists like Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns, Smith created a powerful, layered commentary on the destruction, dispossession, and stereotyping of Indigenous peoples.
In her 2023 exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art—the first retrospective ever devoted to a Native American artist—Smith reflected on how she used the map as a symbol. “The map didn’t belong to Jasper Johns,” she said, “it was an abstract image of stolen land in this country.” By turning these iconic images into works that told new stories, she created a poignant narrative of loss, resistance, and reclamation of identity.
Smith’s art often used humor and satire to deconstruct Euro-American narratives and stereotypes about Native Americans. One such example is her 1994 lithograph Modern Times. Which incorporated a logo of an Indigenous figure in a colorful feathered headdress, pairing it with the image of a man in a business suit. This juxtaposition emphasized the reality that Native Americans are not relics of the past, but vibrant, contemporary individuals.
“Read about: Wayang Potehi’s First Lady: Syarifa and Her Inspiring Journey”
Smith’s influence extended far beyond her own work. As a passionate advocate for Native American art. She curated shows and mentored young artists, bringing much-needed visibility to Native American art in mainstream institutions. In 2023, she curated The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans. The first exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., to be curated by a Native American artist. In 2020, her monumental work I See Red: Target (1992) became the first painting by a Native American artist acquired by the National Gallery of Art.
Before her death, Smith had already been involved in curating Indigenous Identities: Here, Now & Always, an exhibition set to open at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum in February 2025. Through these efforts, Smith advocated for more recognition and understanding of Native American culture in the art world, at a time when many of these voices had faced historical marginalization.
Born in 1940 at the St. Ignatius Indian Mission in Montana, Smith grew up in a community that deeply connected with Native American traditions and history. After spending part of her childhood near Tacoma, Washington, Smith pursued her education in art. First earning a degree in art education from Framingham State College in Massachusetts in 1976. She later moved to Albuquerque. Where she studied Native American art at the University of New Mexico. Though the university did not accept her into the Native American studies program. Instead, she chose to enroll in the university’s art program and earned her master’s degree in 1980. Her involvement with the Tamarind Institute, a prestigious lithography studio, helped shape her future artistic practice.
Throughout her career, Smith also engaged in activism and education. Advocating for the importance of Native American voices in the arts. She was known as a generous mentor. She influenced and supported other Native American artists, with her impact extending beyond her own work.
“Read more: Lori Harvey Stunning Playboy Cover Signals Magazine’s Print Revival”
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s death marks the loss of one of the most important voices in contemporary American art. Her work and her activism continue to resonate with those who seek to understand. She’s also challenge the systemic racism and historical injustices that Indigenous peoples have faced. As a mentor, artist, and advocate, Smith leaves behind a profound legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of artists and activists dedicated to confronting injustice and reclaiming Indigenous identity.
