Exhibition Info
The Western Aesthetic: Bolo Ties in the IARC Collection
Tucked inside the jewelry vaults of the Indian Arts Research Center is a stunning collection of Native American-made bolo ties. These pieces, dating from the 1950s onward, show artistic diversity in style, shape, design, and material. Pueblo and Diné silversmiths and lapidaries have been honing and combining jewelry traditions, including channel, mosaic, and overlay methods, to craft these wearable works of Western art.
While the bolo tie is recognized as a symbol of the West, its origins are often disassociated from the Native American artists who popularized the form. This exhibit highlights the creativity practiced by twentieth-century tribal artists working within the medium. Today, Native American artists continue to define, refine, and reimagine the Western aesthetic – one bolo tie at a time.
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Curated by Emily Santhanam (Chickasaw), 2020-2021 Anne Ray Intern.
