Jontay Kahm: Personified Existence

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University will present the first solo museum exhibition of Plains Cree designer and artist Jontay Kahm, whose work bridges Indigenous knowledge systems, fashion and sculpture. Organized by Lumbee scholar and guest curator Nancy Strickland Chavis, Jontay Kahm: Personified Existence examines life, death and the hereafter through contemporary Indigenous fashion. The exhibition is on view August 18 through December 6 in Auburn, Alabama.

Based in Saskatchewan, Canada, Kahm is an emerging force in contemporary Indigenous art and fashion. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, he has gained international attention for his avant-garde creations that blend traditional Indigenous techniques with contemporary design. Featured by Vogue, his clients include Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone, known for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). 

The exhibition includes approximately 20 works spanning several recent collections. The presentation highlights the conceptual depth of his practice while demonstrating how Indigenous fashion continues to shape contemporary conversations in art, design and culture. Nectar is a featured object that Kahm describes as a turning point in his practice, one that not only pushed him out of his comfort zone but also led to a new way of working. 

“I wanted to reinvent the ribbon skirt while remaining true to my First Nations cultural existence and the enduring tradition of ribbon work that is often found employed in powwow regalia,” said Kahm. “Rather than using ribbon as adornment, I developed what I call a panel technique, constructing the garment from layered ribbons that were measured, taped, sewn and draped by hand.”

“For me, the piece represents renewal, transformation and the possibility of carrying Indigenous traditions forward through innovation. It asks what ribbon work might look like not only today, but a thousand years from now,” Kahm said.

The exhibition reflects growing recognition of Indigenous fashion and design as significant forms of contemporary artistic practice. Museums today increasingly recognize fashion as a dynamic and expressive form of visual art,” said Cindi Malinick, executive director of The Jule. “In a university art museum setting, exhibitions like Personified Existence create meaningful opportunities for teaching, research and public engagement around the environment, spirituality and color theory. Students and visitors are introduced to important voices in contemporary Indigenous art.”

The exhibition was organized by Nancy Strickland Chavis, director and curator of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. "Guest curating this exhibition for Auburn and The Jule provides a valuable platform for elevating an Indigenous artist whose work expands conversations about the possibilities of contemporary Native art,” Strickland Chavis said. “By centering Indigenous perspectives, Personified Existence encourages dialogue across disciplines and communities while celebrating the innovation of our people.” 

Kahm and Strickland Chavis will visit Auburn September 28 to 30 for a series of engagements with students, faculty and the public. Their visit will include conversations exploring Indigenous art, fashion, design and contemporary creative practice. For more information, visit jcsm.auburn.edu.