Gibson first Native American artist to display work at show in Venice, Italy
Jeffrey Gibson, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, has been selected as a solo presenter at the Biennale Arte 2024 for the 60th International Art Exhibition at the United States Pavilion at the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, Italy. Mr. Gibson is the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States. Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben travelled to Italy in support and recognition of Gibson’s milestone achievement.
“Jeffrey’s installation the space in which to place me couldn’t be more appropriate in describing the existence of Native Americans within our country,” said Chief Ben. “We are still here but are rarely brought to the forefront of focus in mainstream society. Jeffrey brings Native culture out of the shadows and into the spotlight with his artwork and this installation.”
Tribal Chief Ben is an invited guest of Mr. Gibson and attended the pre-opening activities which included a guided tour of the exhibition, a dinner program, and a press conference held at the United States Pavilion. Chief Ben spoke at both the dinner and press conference.
An accomplished artist, Gibson has many permanent collections at some of the nation’s most prestigious museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, among many others. Mr. Gibson’s recent solo exhibitions including Burning World: Jeffrey Gibson (ICA San Francisco, 2022), Jeffrey Gibson: The Body Electric (SITE Santa Fe, 2022), Jeffrey Gibson: They Come From Fire (Portland Art Museum, 2022), Jeffrey Gibson: INFINITE INDIGENOUS QUEER LOVE (deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 2022).
It was announced in July 2023 that Mr. Gibson would represent the United States at the 2024 Venice Biennale, making it the first time in the American Pavilion’s more than 90-year history that an Indigenous artist has done it solo.
Jeffrey is the son of James Gibson of the Conehatta Community. He has fond memories of visiting Choctaw Tribal lands as a youngster. He credits his grandmother, Lilly, and his aunt, Lamona, with keeping his ties strong to his Choctaw heritage.