Indian Market Brought Awards and Opportunities to “Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country” Curators and Artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–September 2, 2025–(Santa Fe, NM)–As thousands of Indigenous artists and collectors converged on Santa Fe for the 103rd annual Indian Market this August, the curators and select artists of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country had much to celebrate after a weekend full of awards, connections, and accomplishments. Hosted by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Indian Market brings together over 1,000 Native American artists from more than 200 tribes every year.

Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country, a first-of-its-kind exhibition at the Museum, is slated to open on November 7, featuring newly created works by artists, scholars, and culture bearers from the six Tewa Pueblos—Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara, and Tesuque—opening a critical dialogue around sacred landscapes, Indigenous belonging, and cultural ownership.

The Museum’s Luce Curator of Art and Social Practice and co-curator of Tewa Nangeh, Bess Murphy, joined the judging panel for the second time in the textiles category. Murphy, who has extensive experience working with leading Native American artists, community members, and students to develop meaningful programs and exhibitions, holds a BA in Art History from Bard College, and an MA and PhD in 20th-Century American Art History from the University of Southern California.

Jason Garcia, co-curator of Tewa Nangeh, was awarded two ribbons at this year’s Indian Market. Garcia was awarded first place in classification II Pottery, Division D Pottery (Native Materials) for his piece K’o Shadeh/Buffalo Dances, K’haP’o Owinge, and second place in classification II Pottery, Division D Pottery (Native Materials) for his piece TEWA TALES OF SUSPENSE! NO. 139 Fogeri 1977 ‘Welcome to Tewa Nangeh!’ The ceramic tiles were created and painted using traditional materials and firing techniques. Garcia has won numerous awards at previous Indian Markets, including “Best of Paintings” in 2016.

Michael Namingha, a participating artist in Tewa Nangeh, opened his newest show Michael Namingha Altered State at Niman Fine Arts on August 15 in Santa Fe. Altered State explores the transformations of familiar landscapes through altered or imagined interpretations. Inspired by the world of Japanese literature and Namingha’s own experiences encountering stories about Hopi mythology and prophecy, the works feature landscapes undergoing a profound transformation, as evidenced by the daily news stories that challenge our perceptions of stability and constancy.

Visitors will have the chance to see newly created works by Garcia and Namingha at Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country, which honors the enduring presence, culture, and creativity of the Tewa people and challenges the long-standing erasure of their history in narratives surrounding Georgia O’Keeffe’s work and life in Northern New Mexico. The exhibition will open at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (217 Johnson Street in Santa Fe) on November 7 with a free public opening celebration from 4:00 PM–8:00 PM.

Participating Artists Include:

Admission for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is free for members of Indigenous communities, tribes, and nations for the duration of Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country.

Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country is funded through generous support from:

Download PDF

For media inquiries, contact:
Renee Lucero | Public Relations Manager, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum | 505-946-1063

Images for Tewa Nangeh can be found here.

ABOUT THE GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM: Since 1997, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum celebrates the art, life, and independent spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Georgia O’Keeffe lived the final decades of her life, the O’Keeffe has sites and experiences in two historic destinations, Santa Fe and Abiquiú. For more information, please visit gokm.org.