Cree artist Kent Monkman, one of Canada’s best known artists, is recognized internationally as a credible commentator on Canada’s colonialist past, and as an authoritative voice on Indigenous issues generally. One of his seminal works “Shame and Prejudice” was featured on The Art Junkie in the past.

Have you met Miss Chief Eagle Testickle?

But there is so much more since then to explore in Monkman’s exquisite work, including the rising profile of his wondrous, gender-fluid alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle (above).

Then there are are the two monumental paintings — a diptych titled  mistikôsiwak: The Wooden Boat People — that Monkman was commissioned to create for the Great Hall of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Top of post: one of the paintings: Welcoming the Newcomers / below: Resurgence of the People)

Both are covered in these fascinating and revealing videos from The Met. Watch either one, or both, to get more of a feel for Monkman’s incredible talent.

VIDEO 1: Inspiration from The Met’s Collections

VIDEO 2: CBC feature on Monkman and the paintings

More on Kent Monkman at his website here.

Image at the top of this post: Kent Monkman (Cree, b. 1965). Welcoming the Newcomers, 2019. Acrylic on canvas, 132 x 264 in. (335.28 x 670.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Donald R. Sobey Foundation CAF Canada Project Gift, 2020. Image courtesy of the artist