The Denver Art Museum has opened a landmark exhibition that invites visitors to rediscover the American West through Indigenous eyes: “Storytellers: The Blackfeet Nation and Charles M. Russell,” on view from September 6, 2026, through January 24, 2027.
The show brings together more than 80 artworks, including oil paintings, watercolors and bronzes by the legendary Charles M. Russell alongside ancestral works of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Nitsitapii), with pieces from the Kainai (Blood Tribe) and the Amskaapii Pikannii (Blackfeet) peoples dating from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. 2026 also marks one hundred years since Russell’s passing, making this a fitting moment to celebrate his legacy.
The exhibition grew out of a landmark gift of masterworks from the collection of Tom and Jane Petrie, which greatly expands the museum’s western American art holdings. Visitors will encounter powerful themes: the deep spiritual connection to the bison, the remarkable artistry of Blackfeet women in beadwork, hide-tanning and saddle making, and the roles of warriors and medicine men. One of the most moving experiences is Hand Talk, which brings Plains Indian Sign Language to life through video and contemporary experts.
“With Storytellers, we are inviting visitors to look closer at the intersections of art, memory and Indigenous expertise,” said museum director Christoph Heinrich. A perfect family outing and a celebration of a living, resilient culture — Happy City News highly recommends it.
Photo: Denver Art Museum
