The Akron Art Museum will present Kent Monkman: History Is Painted by the Victors, a sweeping survey of work by the internationally recognized Cree artist, from April 11 through Aug. 16, 2026. Akron is the only Midwest venue on the exhibition’s North American tour, which was organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Denver Art Museum and previously shown to wide critical acclaim at both institutions.
Monkman (b. 1965), a member of the Fisher River Cree Nation in Treaty 5 Territory, Manitoba, works across painting, film, video, performance, and installation. His monumental canvases subvert the conventions of European history painting to address the climate crisis, government policies affecting Indigenous peoples, intergenerational trauma, and the experiences of Two-Spirit, queer, and trans Indigenous communities. The exhibition includes significant loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York alongside works from private collections. Monkman is widely known for his gender-fluid alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, who reclaims and reimagines art-historical traditions.
“Kent Monkman’s monumental works ask us to confront difficult truths while also creating space for reflection, humor, and resilience,” said Jon Fiume, CEO and Executive Director of the Akron Art Museum. “Presenting this exhibition in Akron underscores the museum’s mission to bring world-class contemporary art to our region and to amplify voices that challenge and expand our understanding of history.” A free artist talk takes place April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Public Library Main Branch Auditorium, followed by an opening celebration at the museum at 7:30 p.m. The Akron Art Museum is located at One South High; gallery admission is free on Thursdays.
Source: Akron Art Museum