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Neal Ambrose-Smith: The Artistic Modernity Of Indianness, Erik Parker

Art & Art History ETDs

Neal Ambrose-Smith is an artist of Cree, Metis, and Salish heritage who is at the forefront of contemporary Native American art. A thorough examination of Ambrose-Smiths body of work will reveal that the majority of his art can be viewed as having overwhelming intentions toward a dissolution of boundaries separating the ideas of 'Native,' 'contemporary,' and 'Western art.' It also will show that through the utilization of popular culture and its icons, Ambrose-Smith is able to build a rapport with audiences, while also using images and themes in his art to help break down barriers that contemporary Native artists face …