INDIANAPOLIS — On Saturday, Nov. 14 the Eiteljorg Museum will open a new exhibition — re-MARK-able Perseverance: Tattoos — Survival and Innovation of North American Indigenous Tattoo Practice. This powerful exhibition explores the deep history, meaning, and resurgence of Indigenous skin-marking traditions across the continent through photographs, videos and other artworks. Continuing through Feb. 21, 2027, the exhibition includes related public programs.
For generations, Native peoples across North America have used tattooing as a powerful form of cultural expression. Tattoos can mark identity, honor spiritual beliefs, celebrate rites of passage, signify social status and carry stories passed from one generation to the next.
re-MARK-able Perseverance: Tattoos explores the rich and diverse traditions of Indigenous tattooing, from ancestral practices to the artists and communities reviving and reimagining them today.
Step inside the exhibition to discover the meaning behind the marks. Explore the tools, techniques and designs from some of the best Native tattoo artists in North America. Learn how tattooing practices vary across Indigenous communities and regions, and see how these traditions have endured despite generations of disruption and suppression.
Featuring historic objects, contemporary artwork, photography and immersive experiences, re-MARK-able Perseverance: Tattoos invites you to look beyond the tattoo itself and discover the stories, beliefs and cultural knowledge it carries. Admission to the Eiteljorg is $20 for adults, $16 seniors, $12 youth 5-17. The Eiteljorg is a cashless campus, with debit/credit or electronic forms of payment. The museum is located at 500 West Washington St.
