Arikara Proper | J. White

Arikara Proper is a solo exhibition featuring a collection of paintings from artist J. White (Arikara). A self-taught narrative painter, White shares her culture through the lens of an urban Indian. White’s work depicts and celebrates her Northern Plains culture, while capturing and exploring obscure emotions through abstract expressionism. Working exclusively in acrylic, White uses vibrant, colorful hues and signature stylistics allowing color to shape form and subject. Through recurring representational elements of stars, quilts, buffaloes, horses and Native women, White showcases empowerment and highlights culture-driven storytelling. White relies on personal experience to feed her creativity and prescribe identity, expressing passion on her canvas in a way that’s palpable to the viewer. Inspired by her grandmother who was a quilter, White’s color palette and abstract shapes are reminiscent of quilt design, harnessing woven expression into the canvas.  

Owner of Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based gallery, Post Pilgrim, White brings a contemporary abstract eye to Native art and uplifts artists whose art mediums pose critical questions about today’s society. In her own practice, White strives to use her voice and paintings as a vessel to thunderously advocate for Native presence in the artworld. 

“I believe it is crucial – especially in these crazy times – to speak as loud as we can as Native people of this country. Our culture is more than what we have been told, our culture is more than what we expect from ourselves. We are going to continue to evolve and conquer our fears; I chose to do it through my art. I am proud to be a Native Painter. I am proud to be a woman gallery owner, and I will work very hard to do right by the people I love. To be born a painter is favor; to be born Arikara is divine.” - J. White. 

About the Artist:
J. White is an Arikara Native American artist from Sioux Falls SD. Her professional career began in 2010. During this time, she has created an art gallery and a body of work that celebrates her culture both Native and non-Native.

White’s devotion to her family and career have brought many opportunities to show her work all over the country and abroad. White is a narrative painter who works exclusively in acrylic. Her passion can be seen and felt in every piece she creates. The subject of White’s work is focused on the women and men in her life, good bad or otherwise. She tackles more obscure emotions through landscape. Both styles are very telling and raw in feeling. White continues to celebrate her passion and culture everyday. postpilgrimartgallerydotcom.wordpress.com/

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 10 am-5 pm
Saturday: 12pm - 3 pm
Sunday-Monday: Closed 

*This activity is made possible, in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Major support for Arikara Proper is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Image: J. White, Sisters, 2022, 48x84x2, Acrylic on canvas