A Tlingit/Unangax̂/multi-disciplinary artist, Nicholas Galanin's work engages contemporary culture from his perspective rooted in connection to land. He embeds incisive observation into his work, investigating intersections of culture and concept in form, image and sound. Galanin's works embody critical thought as vessels of knowledge, culture and technology – inherently political, generous, unflinching, and poetic. He engages past, present, and future to expose intentionally obscured collective memory and barriers to the acquisition of knowledge. His works critique commodification of culture, while contributing to the continuum of Tlingit art. Galanin employs materials and processes that expand dialogue on Indigenous artistic production, and how culture can be carried. His work is in numerous public and private collections and exhibited worldwide. Galanin apprenticed with master carvers, earned his BFA at London Guildhall University, and his MFA at Massey University; he lives and works with his family in Sitka, Alaska.
The IDS public lecture series is part of the Robert Lehman Visiting Artist Program at The Cooper Union. We are grateful for major funding from the Robert Lehman Foundation. The IDS public lecture series is also made possible by generous support from the Open Society Foundations.
The Intra-Disciplinary Seminar is pleased to present a virtual lecture in partnership with The Cooper Climate Coalition. *This lecture will be online only. Register here.
Nicholas Galanin was born in 1979 in Sitka, Alaska and is of mixed Tlingit/Aleut and non-Native ancestry. Galanin was first introduced to visual arts by learning traditional crafts of his tribe from his father and uncle. He later studied at London Guildhall University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and with Honors in Jewelry Design and Silversmithing. Galanin went to graduate school at Massey University in New Zealand, where he furthered his study of native arts and earned his graduate degree in Indigenous Visual Arts in 2004. Galanin paves his own path of creativity. “My art enters this stream at many different points, looking backwards, looking forwards, generating its own sound and motion. I am inspired by generations of Tlingit creativity and contribute to this wealthy conversation through active curiosity,” he said. Galanin embraces contemporary aesthetics but with a traditional twist that leaves his viewers fascinated.
The Cooper Climate Coalition, an open body of students, faculty, and staff at The Cooper Union, facilitates conversations, events, and student projects within the institution that center the Climate Crisis and its intersections with races, classes, genders, sexualities, histories, economies, political structures and more.
Along with organizing Cooper Union’s Climate Week programs and events in the fall, the Climate Coalition takes responsibility for fostering interdisciplinarity throughout The Cooper Union in support of environmental action.
