Materialscape introduces the work of three visual artists—Marissa Baez (Mexican American), Delaney Keshena (Menominee), and Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), each distinctively exploring the intersection of materiality and land. Their intentional use of material is deeply rooted in their cultural and personal journeys, manifesting either as a form of reclaiming or as a continuation. Ash, beeswax, metal, porcupine quills, paper, animal hide, and plants are not merely mediums but pivotal elements central to their expressive practices. By employing both natural and synthetic materials, the artists collectively share stories, memories, and histories that powerfully reflect on the contemporary Indigenous experience.
Through diligent research and the embrace of communal knowledge, these artists delve into the complexities of identity, resistance, and resilience. Their works act as a dynamic exploration of the interplay between culture, environment, and personal narrative, illustrating how deeply embedded materials can convey profound thematic inquiries. As they navigate through themes of dispossession and regeneration, their artworks resonate as potent symbols of cultural reclamation and personal revelation, offering insights into both shared and unique paths of Indigenous persistence and creativity.
About the artists:
Marissa Alise Baez (she/they) was born in 1997 in Houston, Texas. Based in the United States, Baez is a multidisciplinary artist interested in memory, ephemerality, identity, and the body. They studied Sculpture in the Department of Visual Art at Texas Woman’s University and graduated with a BFA in May 2019. Baez graduated with an MFA at Penn State School of Visual Arts in 2021. Baez has exhibited nationally and internationally in Mexico City, Texas, Pennsylvania, and California. Baez was awarded a launch fellowship with La Mecha gallery in El Paso, Texas. Currently, they teach in Sculptures and Foundations at Penn State University.
Delaney Keshena (they/them) is an enrolled citizen of the Menominee Nation and interdisciplinary artist born in Shawano, Wisconsin. Keshena uses hair, skin and glass in their practice of crafting objects that retell stories of family, nation and contemporary Indigenous experience. In 2022, Delaney was awarded a two year fellowship with North House Folk School where they deepened their relationship with the craft traditions and materials of the boreal forest. Delaney is a teaching artist and has shown in Italy, Belgium and throughout the United States. They are currently in a two year residency with Public Functionary and currently based in Minneapolis, MN.
Mikayla Patton (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, now based in Pennsylvania. She creates sculptural objects that meld recycled paper with natural elements, reflecting themes of Indigenous intimacies, sustainability, and healing. Patton employs traditional Lakota methodologies, using materials like glass beads, porcupine quills, and leather. She earned a BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and her work has been featured in venues like the Texas Tech School of Art and the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. Patton's contributions are highlighted in publications such as Hand Papermaking Magazine. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2023 Joan Mitchell Fellowship and the 2024 Forge Project Fellowship.