MINNEAPOLIS — At the Walker Art Center, Dyani White Hawk (Sičaŋǧu Lakota) presents her solo exhibition, “Love Language”, which radiates with the theme of infinite love. As a 2023 MacArthur Fellow and a Minneapolis-based artist, White Hawk offers an Indigenous perspective often missing in the local art scene. The exhibition is organized into four thematic areas — See, Honor, Nurture, and Celebrate — each acting as both artistic guidance and ethical calls to action. The section See immerses audiences in the rich cultural legacies of Native art, while Honor explores lasting ties to land, ancestry, and community. Within Nurture, visitors find cozy couches with blankets and pillows designed by White Hawk, alongside a video series, Listen, featuring Indigenous women speaking in their native tongues amidst their ancestral lands.
The kapémni design, a central element in White Hawk’s work, is an X shape formed by two triangles meeting at their tips, representing the union of the spiritual and earthly realms, as well as the harmony between humanity and nature. White Hawk’s exploration of this concept culminates in her grand 10-foot kapémni sculpture, “Infinite We” (2025), an hourglass form composed of triangular ceramic tiles with vibrant hues and gold grout, contrasting with midnight blue tiles adorned with star-like specks.
In the Celebrate section, the standout piece “Wopila/Lineage” is a wall-sized canvas originally made for the 2022 Whitney Biennial. The work, crafted from thousands of glittering glass bugle beads, reflects both light and the collective effort behind its creation. White Hawk involved family and BIPOC community members in the bead-stringing process, echoing the repetitive kapémni motif that transcends the canvas’s boundaries.
The Walker Art Center’s approach to “Love Language” emphasizes inclusivity and positive engagement. This includes Lakota/Dakota language training for staff, audio guides featuring Native commentary, and a ceremonial opening featuring a drum circle and Indigenous speakers, including the artist’s mother, Sandy White Hawk. This exhibition marks a significant step for the Walker, following the controversial removal of Sam Durrant’s “Scaffold” in 2017, which led to vital discussions and change.
As part of the Walker’s commitment to Native artists in Minneapolis, Rosy Simas’ (Seneca Nation of Indians, Heron clan) project, “A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:’ (i hope it will stir your mind),” will debut on February 12. In the wake of Minneapolis’s current challenges, “Love Language” serves as a sanctuary for healing and a testament to Indigenous resilience. The exhibition will next travel to the Remai Modern in Saskatchewan, acting as a model for ethical curation by centering Indigenous narratives.
Dyani White Hawk: Love Language is on display at the Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, Minnesota) until February 15. Curated by Siri Engberg and Tarah Hogue (Metis), with assistance from Brandon Eng, the exhibition will continue at the Remai Modern in Saskatchewan, Canada, starting April 25.
