The Oakland Museum of California’s exhibition Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California, an extensive collection highlighting California’s Indigenous people, ends July 13.
OMCA acquired Native American photographer Aguilar’s personal archive, which was gifted to the Museum by Aguilar’s family in November 2022. Aguilar was an important figure in the revitalization of Native traditions for more than from 1982 until his death in 2018.
The collection honors and showcases moments of cultural significance in contemporary Native life. Aguliar’s images document Indigenous experiences from California landscapes such as Yosemite and Sutter Buttes to gatherings, ceremonies, and the artistry of basket weaving.
“We’re honored to acquire this astounding collection of photographs and personal ephemera from such an important Indigenous artist,” said OMCA’s Curator of Photography and Visual Culture, Drew Johnson. “Through a deep collaboration with Native partners, we are working to catalog, image, and soon, provide public access to this collection, through an exhibition, programming, and additional installations in our galleries.”
Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California is on display now through July 2025. Visit https://museumca.org/on-view to learn more.