Arbitrary Borders features 35 paintings and sculptures by Black, Indigenous/First Nations, and Latinx artists. The exhibition was born out of identified gaps in the Western Gallery collection, where the voices, histories and perspectives of diverse artists have been all but missing.
The works in the exhibition better represent the many faces and backgrounds of our community. All of the artworks are from Washington’s State Art Collection, one of the oldest and largest statewide public art collections in the nation, but they will stay at Western after the exhibition closes and be displayed permanently in public places around the campus.
Among the artists are Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds, Mildred Howard, Edna Jackson, James Luna, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith.