Raven Halfmoon's 'Flags of Our Mothers' Opens at Ballroom Marfa

Raven Halfmoon's exhibition titled 'Flags of Our Mothers' has commenced at Ballroom Marfa in Texas and will be on display until October 11. This showcase includes her impressive ceramic sculptures, notably the 12.5-foot 'Flagbearer' (2022), located in the outdoor courtyard and created during her residency at California State University, Long Beach. Constructed in three segments using traditional Caddo coil techniques, this piece took a year to complete. Inside, 'America's Sweetheart' (2022) features dark grey, white, and red glazes, with the red symbolizing Oklahoma soil and the plight of murdered Indigenous women. The exhibition also highlights paired female busts and torsos, including 'Tsu'-Cus lya'y? I (Star Sister I)' (2022) and 'Day and Night in Oklahoma' (2026). Originally organized by chief curators Amy Smith-Stewart and Rachel Adams, the exhibition began at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. A member of the Caddo Nation from Oklahoma, Halfmoon employs a limited palette of dark grey, white/cream, and red, leaving distinct handmade touches on her pieces. Her sculptures are also displayed at the Whitney Museum of American Art (Whitney Biennial until August 23), the High Line (until October), the Hammer Museum (until August 23), and LACMA. Halfmoon expresses a desire to challenge stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans through representations of empowered women, stating, "I feel a responsibility to share histories."