Public Art Fund Talks: Nicholas Galanin

Nicholas Galanin speaks about the process for creating his first public commission in New York City, In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra, on view now in Brooklyn Bridge Park. As an Indigenous person, Galanin practices subsistence in his homeland, Sitka, Alaska. For him, all life is deeply connected to Land. Built using the same steel tubing as the U.S.-Mexico border wall, Galanin’s newest public sculpture adapts aspects of pop art and minimalism to protest politically imposed divisions that obstruct the free movement of people and other life forms in favor of colonial interests.
In this talk, Galanin will discuss how In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra considers our relationships with the physical environment, as well as the legacy of colonization and its impact on migration.
Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit and Unangax̂ ) creates art rooted in his perspective as an Indigenous man connected to the land and culture to which he belongs. His work is embedded with incisive observation and critical thinking to advocate for social and environmental justice. Through concept, form, image, and sound, Galanin expands and refocuses the intersections of culture, centering Indigeneity. His works are vessels for knowledge, culture, and technology. Engaging with past, present, and future, Galanin celebrates the beauty, knowledge, and resilience of Indigenous people. He holds a BFA from London Guildhall University in Jewellery Design and an MFA in Indigenous Visual Arts from Massey University in New Zealand, prior to which he apprenticed with master carvers and jewelers in his community; he is represented by Peter Blum Gallery in New York, and his music is released by Sub Pop Records in Seattle. Galanin lives and works with his family on Lingít Aani, Sitka, Alaska.
Public Art Fund Talks, organized in collaboration with The Cooper Union, connect compelling contemporary artists to a broad public by establishing a dialogue about artistic practices and public art. The Talks series features internationally renowned artists who offer insights into artmaking and its personal, social, and cultural contexts. The core values of creative expression and democratic access to culture and learning shared by both Public Art Fund and The Cooper Union are embodied in this ongoing collaboration. In the spirit of accessibility to the broadest and most diverse public, the Talks are offered free of charge.