Join artist Maggie Thompson (Fond du Lac Ojibwe) in conversation with independent curator and writer Shandiin Brown (Diné) as they discuss “Interactions,” Thompson’s first institutional solo exhibition, curated by Erin Robideaux Gleeson. Thompson will share insights into her use of fiber, beadwork, and garment-based art to confront structural violence and foster healing and Native solidarity. The conversation will also delve into the influence of Indigenous feminist practices throughout her work.
The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) proudly presents “Maggie Thompson: Interactions,” a solo exhibition of recent works by Maggie Thompson (Fond du Lac Ojibwe). Thompson’s groundbreaking practice expands the possibilities of textile-based media through personal, social, and political inquiry.
Drawing on Ojibwe traditions and contemporary lived experiences, she weaves together complex narratives of personal and collective resistance, resilience, and healing.
As her first institutional solo, “Interactions” brings together four new works addressing topics from structural violence and addiction to solidarity and community care. Thompson addresses themes ranging from psychological abuse and addiction to recovery. While “The Hospital Gown Project” (2025) and “I Can’t Breathe” (2024–2025) transform familiar garments into participatory works, “F**k This” (2025) earrings and “Tug-of-War” (2025) sculptures confront oppressive political and social hierarchies.
“Interactions” debuts the first sculpture from “The Hospital Gown Project”: a patchwork garment with swatches beaded by individuals impacted by addiction within their families and communities, transformed into a powerful object of collective reflection and solidarity.
Another key work is “I Can’t Breathe.” In 2020, Thompson extended her COVID-19 ribbon mask by screenprinting George Floyd’s final words onto face masks, distributed during protests. She later repurposed the remaining fabric into fancy shawls, preserving the memory of Floyd and expressing Native solidarity with broader racial justice movements.
In “Tug-of-War,” Thompson covers ropes with red and white beads depicting remarks directed at her, confronting lateral violence and the impact of blood quantum policies, inviting dialogue around inclusion and identity.
A pair of peyote-stitch beaded earrings, “F**k This,” reimagines the U.S. flag as text wrapped around tampons. Referencing the flag’s legacy in Native art, Thompson describes the piece as “an act of resistance and a way to maintain cultural practices during times of conflict with the government.”
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Thompson’s work is included in major museum collections nationwide. The exhibition is curated by Erin Robideaux Gleeson and supported by Bockley Gallery and the Chicago Woodman Foundation.
https://iaia.edu/event/healing-threads-maggie-thompson-on-textile-art-solidarity-and-community/
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