I’m a socio-cultural and museum anthropologist whose current work is concerned with federal and state arts programs and the ways that local Alaska Native communities have engaged with them. Growing up in Alaska in the 1980s and 1990s allowed me to witness firsthand the burgeoning contemporary Alaska Native art movement during Alaska’s economic heyday and to spend a great deal of time with the numerous public art collections and installations formed during that era. The art holdings of the Alaska Native Medical Center, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, and the Susan Fair collection at the Ted Stevens International Airport have all been especially influential on my current research and dissertation.

For over 25 years, my scholarship has focused on Alaska Native and Northwest Coast material culture, particularly things made for the 20th century tourist art market (e.g. model totem poles, masks, silver work, ivory carvings, baskets). One of the major contributions of my research has been the identification and contextualization of individual model totem pole carvers on the Northwest Coast. I am also interested in the art markets and networks in which these objects are embedded and circulate.

Dr. Susan Rowley

Thesis Title: The | Future | Perfect: Rhetorical Sovereignty, Ephemeral Literature, and the Assemblage of Alaska Native Art Programs, 1960 – 1995

Projected Graduation: 2027

My PhD research examines the role of the United States Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) and other federal and state agencies in the inter-cultural emergence of contemporary Alaska Native art. Beginning in the 1960s, the IACB sponsored several training programs intended to bolster skills in craftsmanship and the creation of objects that could be marketed as fine art to a broad consumer base. With the aid of Iñupiaq scholar and artist Ronald Senungetuk (1933-2020), regional retraining workshops were implemented across Alaska, often tailored to local indigenous materials. While these programs were effective in training a cohort of influential Alaska Native master artists, tensions arose over whether “traditional arts” or modernism should be emphasized by the IACB and its attendant workshops.

The passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971 was a turning point in IACB and Alaska Native relations, shifting focus from federal agencies to indigenously-driven programs partnered with Alaska State-based organizations and institutions. Energized by ANCSA, the decade that followed was a time of artistic innovation and self-determination. My research seeks to illustrate how Alaska Native people, through their engagement with these programs, indigenized and reclaimed their contemporary art production and market.

Research Key Words

Circumpolar studies, Government-sponsored art initiatives, Museums, Archives, Development, Policy, Cultural tourism, Art market economies, Local arts councils, Network theory, Institutional critiques, Bureaucracy, Modernity, Alaska Native art, Northwest Coast art

Peer Reviewed Chapters

2011
“A Checklist of Model Totem Makers” in Carvings and Commerce: Model Totem Poles, 1880-2010, edited by Michael D. Hall and Pat Glascock, Seattle: University of Washington Press, pp. 201-213

Chapters in Edited Volumes

2021
“Sonny Assu, Pop Culture, and Indigenous Futurisms: From Gen X to Planet X” in Shifting Boundaries: 2021 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship, edited by Elisa Phelps and Dorene Red Cloud, Indianapolis: The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, pp. 43-58

2019
“Two Tlingit Medicine Men Figurines” in Art Purposes: Object Lessons for the Liberal Arts, edited by Joachim Homann, Munich: DelMonico Books-Prestel, pp. 104-105

Features and Memorials

2023
In Memoriam: Joe Senungetuk, March 29, 1940 – May 31, 2023, First American Art Magazine, No. 39, p. 123

In Memoriam: Mervin Windsor, March 15, 1964 – September 25, 2022, First American Art Magazine, No. 37, p. 93

2022
Nuxalk Sculptor and Painter: Lyle Mack, First American Art Magazine, No. 33, pp. 62-67

2020
Coloring, Culture, and Quarantine: Indigenous Artists Create Free Coloring Designs During Lockdown, First American Art Magazine, No. 27, pp. 24-25

Tlingit Armor-Maker and Woodcarver: Tommy Joseph, First American Art Magazine, No. 26, pp. 64-69

Book Reviews

2022
Where the Power Is: Indigenous Perspectives on Northwest Coast Art by Karen Duffek, Bill McLennan, and Jordan Wilson, First American Art Magazine, No. 34, pp. 84-85

2020
Unsettling Native Art Histories on the Northwest Coast edited by Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse and Aldona Jonaitis, First American Art Magazine, No. 28, pp. 80-81

2019
Proud Raven, Panting Wolf: Carving Alaska’s New Deal Totem Parks by Emily Moore, First American Art Magazine, No. 23, pp. 94-95

Yakuglas’ Legacy: The Life and Times of Charlie James by Ronald Hawker, Museum Anthropology, Volume 42, pp. 51-52

Exhibition and Auction Catalogues

2025
Inuit and First Nations Art: December 08, 2025, Auction Catalogues, Toronto
With Nadine Di Monte, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

Inuit and First Nations Art: June 09, 2025, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Nadine Di Monte, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

Inuit and First Nations Art: January 30, 2025, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Steven C. Brown and Gary Wyatt, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

2024
Inuit and First Nations Art: December 02, 2024, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Steven C. Brown and Gary Wyatt, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

Inuit and First Nations Art: June 10, 2024, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Steven C. Brown and Gary Wyatt, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

2023
Inuit and First Nations Art: December 04, 2023, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Steven C. Brown and Gary Wyatt, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

Inuit and First Nations Art: June 12, 2023, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Steven C. Brown and Gary Wyatt, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

2022
Inuit and First Nations Art: December 05, 2022, Auction Catalogue, Toronto
With Steven C. Brown and Gary Wyatt, Toronto: First Arts Auctions

2018
Doing Battle with the Halibut People: The Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Halibut Sourcebook
By Chuck Smythe, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, Alaska
Research Specialist: research, original illustrations, annotations, transcriptions

2017
Tináa Art Auction: A Sealaska Heritage Event Auction Catalogue
Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, Alaska
Co-writer with SHI staff: art descriptions, research

Yá ch’áagu aan cháatl dusyeegi at (This Ancient Thing Used to Haul Up Halibut): A Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Halibut Hook Sourcebook.
By Chuck Smythe, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, Alaska
Research Specialist: research, original illustrations, annotations, transcriptions

Alaska Native Masks: Art & Ceremony
Exhibition catalogue. Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, Alaska, pp. 19-24
Co-writer with SHI Staff: artist biographies, research

Web Hosted Publications

2026
January 2026 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

2025
November 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

October 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

September 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

August 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

July 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

Jimmy John: A Century of Storytelling Through Cedar
Blog Post, May 20, 2025, First Arts Auctions, Toronto

May 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

April 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

February 2025 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

2024
Of Monuments and Miniatures: Five Model Poles
Blog Post, November 25, 2024, First Arts Auctions, Toronto

August 2024 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction,
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

March 2024 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

February 2024 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

2023
Consultant’s Pick: Willie Seaweed, Candle Box, ca. 1940s
Blog Post, November 29, 2023, First Arts Auctions, Toronto

August 2023 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

March 2023 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

2022
October 2022 First Nations and Inuit Art Online Auction
First Arts Auctions, Toronto

2020
Ask MOA: What Is This Totem Pole?
Blog Post, September 25, 2020, collaborative analysis with Karen Duffek, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver

2017
Tlingit Ixt’ (Shaman) Amulet Summary
Blog Post, July 17, 2017, collaborative analysis with Rosita Kaaháni Worl, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau

Resources for Recovering Stolen At.óow or Regalia
Blog post, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau

Exhibitions

2025
We Come from Great Wealth: Ḵaḵaso’las—Ellen Neel and the Totem Carvers Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver, BC
Teaching Assistant: consulted and guided student co-curators

Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun
Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver, BC
Co-curators: Clyde Tallio and Jennifer Kramer
Curatorial Assistant: Label checking, fundraising, and sourcing private collection loans

Beauty Beyond Bounds: Contemporary Alaska Native Art in Circumpolar Contexts, First Arts and Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON
Co-curator with Nadine Di Monte

2024
Material Girls: A Reappraisal of Northwest Coast and Alaska Native Woven Works by Women, First Arts and Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON
Co-curator with Nadine Di Monte

2020
Beneath Our Feet, Above Our Heads: The Stories Hats and Shoes Tell
Textile Research Lab, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver, BC
Teaching Assistant: consulted and guided student co-curators

2018
Our Grandparents’ Names on the Land
Nathan Jackson Gallery, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, Alaska
Co-curator with SHI Staff

2017
Alaska Native Masks: Art & Ceremony
Nathan Jackson Gallery, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, Alaska
Co-curator with SHI Staff

2011
Carvings and Commerce: Model Totem Poles 1880-2010
Mendel Art Gallery of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Consultant: research, attributions, object lender

2007
Southeast Alaska Native Market Art: Totems and Tourists in the 20th Century
Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska
Guest Curator

2024
Bill McLennan Northwest Coast Research Award
Museum of Anthropology at UBC

2023
Doctoral Dissertation Writing Award
Department of Anthropology, UBC

Francis Reif Scholarship for Northwest Coast Art Studies
Department of Anthropology, UBC

2020
Michael Ames Scholarship in Museum Studies
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Museum of Anthropology at UBC

2019
Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (2019-2023)
Department of Anthropology at UBC

Kate C. Duncan Travel Award
Native American Art Studies Association (NAASA)

2018
Tina and Morris Wagner Foundation Fellowship (Affiliated Award)
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, UBC

Jacobs Research Fund
Whatcom Museum Society

Francis Reif Scholarship for Northwest Coast Art Studies
Department of Anthropology, UBC

Graduate Student Research Award
Faculty of Arts, UBC

2017
Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship
Department of Anthropology, UBC

2008
Research Award
Mendel Art Gallery of Saskatoon

2007
Outstanding Service to Rural and Native Students 3-Credit Tuition Waiver
Alaska Native Rural Outreach Program, UAA

2006
Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship
University Honors College, UAA

2019

Smithsonian Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA), National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institute: Washington, DC