Kent Monkman

Kent Monkman, born in 1965, is renowned for his provocative engagements with Western European and American art history. The interdisciplinary Cree visual artist hails from the Fisher River Cree Nation in Treaty 5 Territory, Manitoba, and currently resides and works in New York City and Toronto.

In his practice, Monkman delves into themes of colonization, sexuality, loss, and resilience—reflecting the intricate realities of historic and contemporary Indigenous experiences. His gender-fluid alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, frequently features in his work as a time-traveling, shape-shifting supernatural figure who subverts colonial narratives and challenges established perceptions of history and Indigenous peoples.

His paintings and installations have been showcased at prominent institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, The Royal Ontario Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Hayward Gallery, and Palais de Tokyo, among others. Monkman has also staged site-specific performances at venues like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Denver Art Museum. He has presented two nationally touring solo exhibitions: Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience (2017-2020) and The Triumph of Mischief (2007-2010).

In collaboration with Gisèle Gordon, Monkman’s short films and video works have been featured at festivals such as Berlinale and the Toronto International Film Festival. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2023 and has received multiple accolades, including the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (2017), an honorary doctorate from OCAD University (2017), the Indspire Award (2014), and the Hnatyshyn Foundation Visual Arts Award (2014).