HARRY FONSECA

- HARRY FONSECA -

Nisenan, Maidu 1946-2006

Harry Fonseca was an iconic Native American artist of Nisenan, Maidu, Hawaiian, and Portuguese heritage. His work explored themes of identity, cultural resilience and transformation. Born in Sacramento, California, Fonseca drew upon his diverse background and the rich traditions of his Maidu ancestry to create art that combined contemporary styles with Indigenous motifs. 

Fonseca’s art spanned various mediums, including painting, printmaking, and mixed media. The artist’s use of bright colors and unlikely mixed media, such as glitter, dominate their space. His work often incorporated both ancient and modern iconography, challenging stereotypes about Native American art and identity. Fonseca's artistic pursuits delved into issues such as colonization, displacement, and the survival of Native culture, using symbolism to express the resilience and vitality of Indigenous peoples. Fonseca’s legacy is that of a trailblazer who bridged the gap between traditional Native American art and contemporary artistic movements, leaving an indelible mark on the American art narrative. 

In the 1980s, Coyote: A Myth In the Making was organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and traveled to the Field Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Natural History, the Joslyn Art Museum, the Taylor Museum, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, the Oakland Museum and the Millicent Rogers Museum. In 2019-2020, the Autry Museum organized a special exhibition titled, Coyote Leaves the Res: the Art of Harry Fonseca. This remarkable exhibition was developed from the staggering acquisition by the museum of the late artist’s collection and archives. Harry Fonseca's work can be found prominently displayed in prestigious collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Denver Art Museum, the Gilcrease Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, the Crocker Art Museum, the Oakland Museum and the Hood Museum, among many others.