RISD Museum Exhibition Features Indigenous Artists Celebrating Seal Significance

The RISD Museum is presenting an exhibition titled 'Natchiq | Onkeehq | Isuwiq: Indigenous Artists Honor the Seal' from April 4 through October 25, 2026. This showcase brings together both historical and modern works that explore the cultural importance of seals in Indigenous communities. The exhibition is curated by Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi (Alutiiq), Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich (Koyukon Dené–Iñupiaq), and Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag), working alongside María Fernanda Mancera, Assistant Curator of Indigenous Art, and Conor Moynihan, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the museum. The display highlights the deep connections between northern coastal peoples and marine life, particularly seals, which have provided sustenance and cultural meaning across Arctic and subarctic regions for generations. By featuring diverse artistic perspectives, the exhibition aims to illuminate the ongoing relevance of these relationships in contemporary Indigenous art and heritage.