The San Juan Islands Museum of Art is proud to present Shapeshifters – a major exhibition of contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous art, June 13 – September 15, 2025.

The title Shapeshifters embodies the Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples’ connection and respect for the cleverness of the Raven. It also reflects their diverse cultures’ ability to persevere and adapt to change for millennia.

Indigenous stories tell us that “Raven created mankind on the Northwest Coast. His peoples’ art transcends the human experience. Raven always outwits the moment. He transforms to meet life’s challenges and shapeshifts to create new solutions for today’s dilemmas,” stated guest curator Lee Brooks.

Works featured include luminous glass, bronze sculpture, red and yellow cedar carvings, basketry, serigraphs, argillite and multimedia art by some of the Northwest’s most renowned Indigenous artists.

The galleries will be divided into four sections representing four of the unique Native cultural styles of the Pacific Northwest. Works by Susan A. Point, Musqueam, will represent the Coast Salish/South Coast culture. Rande Cook’s work will represent the Mid-Coast/Kwakwaka’wakw style; Christian White’s art will represent the Northern-style art of the Haida, and Tim Paul’s Nuu-Chah-Nulth/West Coast style work will complete the main gallery display.

Additional Native luminaries, such as Richard Hunt, Reg Davidson, Greg Colfax, Gordon Dick and Dan Friday will also be represented. “These works arise from the ancient history of the Northwest Coast and from the Heart of the Salish Sea," Brooks said.