On February 23, 2026, the New-York Historical announced that board chair Agnes Hsu-Tang and her husband Oscar Tang have donated (as a promised gift) 150 historical and contemporary works by Indigenous artists. This is the largest gift of Native American art to any New York institution since the founding of the Museum of the American Indian more than a century ago.
The collection spans from the late 19th century to today and features major names including:
- Fritz Scholder (Luiseño)
- Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Salish)
- T.C. Cannon (Kiowa)
- Cara Romero (Chemehuevi)
- Nampeyo of Hano (Tewa)
- Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso)
- Angel De Cora (Ho-Chunk)
- Zitkala-Ša (Yankton Dakota)
- Courtney M. Leonard (Shinnecock)
- Plus a late-19th-century Diné (Navajo) weaver’s U.S. flag and other pieces
Key highlights:
- Fritz Scholder’s Patriotic Indian (1975)
- Courtney M. Leonard’s Contact 2,021 (2021) — a ceramic sculpture shaped like New York State with the Hudson River traced on it. This piece will greet visitors at the entrance to the new Tang Wing for American Democracy when it opens in June 2026.
The gift is timed to the U.S. 250th anniversary and will be woven directly into the museum’s main American history narrative (not siloed in a separate “Native art” section). NYHS leaders call the works “historical testimony” and a “call to action” that connects past, present, and future.
Main exhibition: House Made of Dawn: Art by Native Americans 1880 to Now Opens April 22 – August 2, 2026 Curated by chief curator Wendy Nālani E. Ikemoto (Native Hawaiian)
Official renderings of the new Tang Wing for American Democracy (opening June 18, 2026) at the New-York Historical Society.
Direct Links
- Breaking news article (today’s primary source): The Art Newspaper – “New York Historical receives gift of 150 works by Indigenous artists” (published ~8 hours ago, full details + images)
- NYHS exhibition page (live or launching soon): https://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/house-made-of-dawn
- Past related NYHS shows that paved the way: Kay WalkingStick / Hudson River SchoolNature, Crisis, Consequence
- Background on Iroquois influence on U.S. democracy: https://www.history.com/articles/iroquois-confederacy-influence-us-constitution
Video coverage: No official announcement video or news segment has dropped yet (the story is only hours old). The museum will likely post one soon on their YouTube channel or socials — check @nyhistory on X/Instagram or their site. In the meantime, here’s a short related piece on the broader New York Contemporary Native American Art Movement (context for the artists in the gift):
(YouTube search “New York Contemporary Native American Art Movement” for background vibes.)
Visual Highlights from the Gift
Fritz Scholder – Patriotic Indian (1975) One of the signature pieces in the donation — bold, ironic, and iconic.
Courtney M. Leonard ceramics & installations (including the style of Contact 2,021) Leonard’s work often uses shell forms and maps to explore contact, environment, and Shinnecock history.
Donors Agnes Hsu-Tang & Oscar Tang The power-couple philanthropists behind the gift (and the new Tang Wing).
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (another major artist in the collection) Her map-based works powerfully reframe American landscapes and history.
This is a genuinely historic and hopeful moment for centering Indigenous voices in mainstream U.S. history museums. If you want me to zoom in on any specific artist, artwork, or angle (or hunt down more videos once they drop), just say the word! 🎨
