UTSA professor Joe Harjo receives prestigious 2024 Joan Mitchell Fellowship

Harjo, an artist from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, works across multiple creative disciplines, including photography, printmaking, and sculpture, showcasing a broad range of artistic talents. He holds a B.F.A. in visual arts from the University of Central Oklahoma and an M.F.A. from the UTSA School of Art. His work explores the lack of visibility, lived experiences, and identity of Native culture. He aims to challenge the misrepresentation and appropriation of Native culture, calling for change through his art.

"I am humbled and honored to receive the Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship, which will provide the financial stability and professional support I need to sustain and grow my studio practice long-term," Harjo said. "This opportunity will allow me to gain financial knowledge and create a lasting legacy as an artist, educator and advocate."

Harjo continued, "The fellowship will also provide the mentorship and resources needed to help me navigate the demands of a rigorous practice, challenges of underrepresentation, and systemic barriers, contributing to my overall well-being."

Harjo's work has appeared in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and he has been recognized with multiple residencies and grants for his evolving contributions to the art world. Locally, his exhibits, "Indian Removal Act II: And She Was" and "Look Now What I've Become" were featured at The Contemporary at Blue Star and the Artpace Main Space, respectively.