Frank Buffalo Hyde’s ‘Unapologetically Indigenous’ reclaims Native identity yhrough satire, resistance
Renowned contemporary artist Frank Buffalo Hyde (Onondaga Beaver Clan/Nimiipuu) confronts long-standing assumptions about Native American art and identity in his exhibition “Unapologetically Indigenous,” a body of work fusing sculpture and painting with satire, humor, and pop culture references. The exhibition is on display from December 7 to January 18 at the Soo Visual Arts Center in Minneapolis.
Rooted in a self-described “consciously, culturally non-transactional” philosophy, Hyde’s work rejects market-driven expectations often placed on Indigenous artists. Instead, he positions his art as a space for authenticity and resistance, challenging the reduction of Native cultures to consumable products. His satirical approach dismantles narratives shaped by cultural appropriation and tourism, while reclaiming Indigenous identity as dynamic, contemporary, and multifaceted.
Hyde’s work is made first and foremost for Native audiences. While accessible to broader viewers, the art prioritizes internal dialogue and cultural validation, using allegory to disarm and educate without divulging ceremonial or protected knowledge. Hyde frequently juxtaposes antiquated technology with concepts such as the metaverse, creating visual parallels that explore how history, technology, and identity collide in the 21st century.
“My work is definitely not made to please the market,” Hyde said in a press release. “It’s not made for collectors or curators. It’s made for Indigenous people and myself.” Hyde in his work does not profit from selling culture or revealing cultural knowledge, but instead draws from shared popular imagery and personal experimentation to develop a visual language that feels both honest and disruptive.
Hyde grew up in New York on his mother’s Onondaga reservation. He began making art at 18, initially as a hobby, before committing fully to his practice after enrolling at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Since then, he has become known for work described as bold, culturally relevant, and inspiring—often featuring powerful animal imagery, particularly buffalo, alongside references to contemporary digital life.
His art has been exhibited at institutions including the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe, the C.M. Russell Museum in Montana, and the Gilcrease Museum in Oklahoma, and is held in major public collections such as the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and the Hirshhorn Museum. Hyde currently lives and works in Northfield, Minnesota, where he has recently completed artist residencies and a public mural commission.
Beyond individual exhibitions, Hyde’s broader mission is to reshape public perceptions of Native American art. He actively challenges stereotypes while encouraging emerging Indigenous artists to work freely and authentically. His message is direct: Native artists should not measure their work against narrow definitions of what is “Indian enough,” but instead trust their own voices.
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