CASPER, Wyo. — The Nicolaysen Art Museum hosted an opening for its new “Our Other Brothers & Sisters” exhibit on Friday, July 7. The exhibit features 13 Indigenous artists and was curated by Riverton native Robert Martinez, who also has artwork in the exhibit.

“We’re proud to open Wyoming’s first ever art exhibit featuring Indigenous artists depicting animals they are connected to,” the Nic writes in the exhibit’s gallery guide. “This groundbreaking show emphasizes the tribal importance of animals in all of our lives and underscores their importance to historical and contemporary Indigenous communities in and around Wyoming.”

Martinez considers this work vital to amplifying Indigenous representation and ending artists being pigeon-holed into the Indigenous art sub-genre. Martinez’s focus is portraiture, and he points out constantly being labeled as an Indigenous artist rather than a portrait artist as an example of this pigeon-holing.

According to Martinez, it is his goal to “find different venues to exhibit the contemporary artwork of Indigenous artists here in Wyoming and in the region.” He says the Nic has been very supportive in exhibiting Indigenous artists and has continued to seek out more Indigenous representation in their collection.

“Our Other Brothers & Sisters” will be on display until December. Visit Robert Martinez’s website and the Nicolaysen Art Museum’s website for more information.