Janae Grass

Janae Grass (b.1999) is a Sac and Fox, Mvskoke, and Absentee Shawnee interdisciplinary artist working in textiles, beadwork and silversmithing. Her work explores the material culture of her community, often drawing narratives from women figures in her community’s history to explore identity, belonging, and historical memory. Grass’ work is rooted in revitalization of art forms such as hand-sewn ribbonwork, beadwork, and Great Lakes style metalsmithing informed by material research she has done in museum collections. She strives to create works that inform about her community’s histories while highlighting a distinct visual style. Grass’ works are in the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Homestead National Historical Park, and private collections. She studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts under the Museum Studies program. She is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

My work is rooted in the revitalization and preservation of the art and techniques from my community. I often draw narratives from my community’s identity and history, especially through the lens of the women in our community who created and upheld our visual language through their art to explore identity, belonging, and historical memory. I am self taught in hand-sewn ribbonwork, multiple techniques in beadwork and metalsmithing.

In my work, I often explore the connection and disconnection to our homelands in the Great Lakes region and how it directly affects our art and material culture. My interest in our designs and forms, shows up through dissecting and finding ways to make sense of objects in museum collections not immediately available to my community. My work is informed by the research I do of these objects and often presenting the journey from research to active practice of techniques, designing, and creating.

I am often reflecting on the history of women from my community who were translating our ways of life into design and form, from beadwork and ribbonwork designs to the use of materials. I look to Sauk women of the past and draw from their roles as culture keepers. As a contemporary person, my work naturally allows for this reflection as I try to imitate their innovation through the use of traditional and non-traditional materials.