Every August, approximately 1,000 Native American artists from across North America gather on the historic Santa Fe Plaza for Santa Fe Indian Market, a celebration of Native art, heritage, and culture. And this August 2024, Indian Market celebrates its 102nd anniversary!
Produced by Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, whose mission is "bringing Native arts to the world by inspiring artistic excellence, fostering education, and creating meaningful partnerships,” Indian Market is the largest and most prestigious juried Indian art market in the world. Native American artisans and their work are the main draw, but there is far more going on than just great shopping! Make your Indian Market experience a robust one. Events run Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18, and some are ticketed.
Shopping Saturday and Sunday on the Plaza at Jeanie Reano's booth (Photo by Gabriella Marks)
1. The Art
The 1,000 or so juried artists hail from more than 200 Nations in the US and Canada and from a long lineage of traditional arts and teaching. Because the Indian Market artist application process requires adherence to strict guidelines on production and materials, you can expect high-quality authentic pieces in a variety of juried mediums, including pottery, basketry, jewelry, painting, sculpture, wood carvings, and textiles. The Saturday and Sunday markets are free and open to all on the Plaza from 8 am to 5 pm.
ShanDien Sonwai LaRance (Hopi, Tewa, Navajo and Assinaboine) from Lightning Boys performs on the Plaza during Indian Market's weekend entertainment (Photo: Tira Howard)
2. Native Performances on the Santa Fe Plaza and Cathedral Park
During the Saturday and Sunday markets, take a moment to pause from your browsing and enjoy the music, dances, comedy, and storytelling shared by Native American performers, including the Lightning Boy hoop dancers, Red Feather Woman, and Adrian Wall on the historic Plaza's gazebo and at the Cathedral Park stage. Free to all!
B2022 Best of Show Winner: Potter Russell Sanchez (San Ildefonso) (Photo by Shayla Blatchford for SWAIA )
3. Friday's Best of Show and Classification Ceremony and Luncheon
Sponsored by JoAnn and Bob Balzer and celebrating the top artists of the year in all 10 juried market categories, this event begins at 11:30 am with an awards ceremony for Best of Classification winners and the Best of Show winner. You will glimpse a stunning preview of the year’s entries from all classifications. The ceremony is followed by a luncheon, catered by award-winning Chef Eric Stumpf of Boxcar at 1 pm for Best of Show and Best of Classification winners, their guests, and ticket holders, sponsored by the Institute of American Indian Arts in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center courtyard. Click here for tickets.
Award-winning Native artwork on view in advance of the weekend markets (Daniel Nadelbach Photography for SWAIA)
4. Friday's Sneak Peek and General Preview of Award-Winning Art
Friday afternoon (from 2 to 4 pm), buy tickets for the opportunity to see the best of Indian Market art in a Sneak Peek after the Best of Show Awards ceremony. From 4:30 to 6 pm, purchase tickets for an opportunity to see this award-winning art during the General Preview. Both opportunities take place in advance of the Saturday and Sunday markets.
Santa Fe Indian Market Gala (Photo by Shayla Blatchford for SWAIA)
5. Saturday's SWAIA Gala Reception, Fashion Show, and Live Auction
The SWAIA Gala takes place at the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary and is your chance to bid on some of the most sought-after pieces of the Market via an exciting live auction. Attendees will enjoy a lavish cocktail soirée with an elegant menu from Santacafé, as well as be treated to a Fashion Show, featuring new collections from select Indigenous fashion designers, including VIVIDUS by Tierra Alysia, Patricia Michaels, C.Ruby Designs, and special guest BALMAIN PARIS. Click here for tickets.
6. Sunday's Art & Fashion Talk: Panel Discussion from the Runway
Artist Kent Monkman, also known as fashionable alter-ego Miss Chief Eagle-Testickle, launches Sunday's Indigenous Fashion Show with an Art & Fashion presentation and dialogue, from 11 am to noon, alongside designer Jontay Kahm at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Click here for tickets.
Models showcasing Indigenous fashion designer Lauren Good Day's fashion (Tira Howard Photography)
7. Sunday's Indigenous Fashion Show
The annual Indigenous Fashion Show, from 3 to 4 pm, showcases cutting-edge collections from five premier North American Indigenous fashion designers (Jamie Okuma, Caroline Monnet, Lauren Good Day, ASEP Designs by Adrian Standing-Elk Pinnecoose, Jontay Kahm, and special guest BALMAIN PARIS) and is a highly popular event. Click here for tickets. For more information, read our recent blog, The Art of Indigenous Fashion at Santa Fe Indian Market.
Indigenous food vendors sell traditional specialty foods
8. Native Food Vendors
A visit to Indian Market would not be complete without sampling some of the amazing Native American homemade cuisine. Enjoy a variety of traditional specialties such as Indian Fry Bread, Frito Pies, roasted corn on the cob, turkey legs, Pueblo stews, and more!
Silver and Gold jewelry by Cody Sanderson (Photo Shayla Blatchford for SWAIA)
9. Other Opportunities to Enjoy Native Arts and Culture
Naturally, the allure of Santa Fe Indian Market also attracts several other Indigenous shows. You can find free, open-to-the-public displays of Indigenous art in a variety of galleries and pop-up style shows. For more unique Native art, visit the nearly 600 artisans at Free Indian Market, which is hosted outside at the Federal Courthouse park on Paseo de Peralta and the Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival, held at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, August 16–18. Also, the Institute of American Indian Art's Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is free from 5–7 pm Friday, August 16 and the 17th and 18th, and hosts many related events, including the 2024 IAIA Recent Graduate Art Market, featuring 20 artists' works, held under the museum's portal on Saturday and Sunday. And the IndigenousWays Festival showcases legendary Indigenous performers, including a cappella groups, storytellers, and fashion designers at the Railyard Park from 5 to 9 pm on Friday, August 16. Workshops and activities, too.
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