RELEASE: Lakota women�s voices and art celebrated in new release�"Lakota Women�s Arts: Quillwork and Beadwork"
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April 22, 2026 For reviews and interviews, contact: Ash Espinoza Museum of New Mexico Press Ash.Espinoza@dca.nm.gov
Lakota women’s voices and art celebrated in new release— Lakota Women’s Arts: Quillwork and Beadwork
Museum of New Mexico Press publishes landmark volume honoring generations of artists
“For it is the mothers, not the warriors, who create a people and guide their destiny.” —Luther Standing Bear, Land of the Spotted Eagle
SANTA FE — The Museum of New Mexico Press is honored to announce its publication of Lakota Women’s Arts: Quillwork and Beadwork on April 21, 2026, a comprehensive new volume that brings long‑overlooked women’s artistry to the forefront of Lakota cultural history.
The Museum of New Mexico Press, part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, created this publication to expand public understanding of Indigenous art traditions and to increase visibility for Native artists whose work has shaped the cultural landscape of the Great Plains and the nation.
Authored by Dr. Marsha C. Bol and Dr. Thomas Red Owl Haukaas , the 340‑page hardcover book illuminates how generations of Lakota women have used quillwork and beadwork to express identity, uphold community values, and innovate within an evolving artistic tradition. Featuring more than 300 images — many drawn from collections rarely accessible to the public — the book offers New Mexicans and readers everywhere a deeper appreciation for the complexity and resilience of these art forms, which continue to inspire museum visitors, contemporary artists, and cultural practitioners.
“Lakota women’s arts reflect a long continuum of creativity, responsibility, and cultural knowledge,” Dr. Bol , director emerita of the Museum of International Folk Art, said. “By presenting these extraordinary pieces alongside first‑person voices, we hope readers see not only the beauty of the objects but the values and histories they carry.”
Co‑author Dr. Thomas Red Owl Haukaas , an enrolled member of the Rosebud Lakota Tribe, said the book offers an opportunity for cultural reconnection. “Seeing these works gathered together — historic and contemporary — is powerful,” he said. “Lakota artists deserve access to these pieces, because knowing where we come from helps guide where we’re going.”
The publication includes garments, bags, footwear, instrument cases, and other intricately crafted items, all photographed in vivid detail. Such an expansive collection of quillwork and beadwork has not been assembled in a single volume before, making this book an essential resource for artists, historians, educators, and museum visitors.
For New Mexicans, this release strengthens the state’s commitment to supporting Native arts and expanding access to Indigenous cultural knowledge. By showcasing living traditions, the book helps…