The Alutiiq Museum collects contemporary art for its permanent collection. We accept donations of artwork and pursue grants to support the purchase of recent works. Contemporary art helps to tell the continuing story of the Alutiiq people and illustrates the ties between our ancestral collections and the present. It promotes the recognition and perpetuation of Alutiiq culture and illustrates the vibrancy and endurance of Native traditions. The pieces featured here have been added to the museum’s collections in the past four years.
Spruce root hat, by Arlene Skinner, 2022, spruce root, dentalium shell, amber, turquoise, and cotton yarn, 15″ x 17″ rim to rim, 8″ high. Purchased with support from Rasmuson Foundation.
Beaded mask, by Cheryl Lacy, 2023, glass beads and sequins on a pellon fabric foundation, 12.5″ x 11.5″ x 1.5″. Purchased with support from Rasmuson Foundation.
Set of 11 watercolor portraits, 22 x 30 inches, by Cheryl Lacy, 2024. Purchased through a partnership between the Rasmuson Foundation and Museums Alaska.
Spruce root hat, woven by Vickie Era Pankretz, Painted by Jerry Laktonen. Spruce roots, dentalium shell, glass beads, otter fur, fiber, paint. Gift of the Era Pankretz Family.
Drawing, by Stacy Studebaker, 2024, colored pencil on black paper, 9.5″ x 20″. Purchased with support from Rasmuson Foundation.
Produced with support from the City of Kodiak.
Propose a Work of Art
The Alutiiq Museum periodically purchases contemporary artwork for its collections. Grant funds from Rasmuson Foundation’s Alaska Art Fund make this possible. Please complete our Artwork Purchase Proposal form to propose a piece of artwork for our permanent collection. The museum also accepts gifts of contemporary art. For assistance with a proposal or a donation, contact Amanda Lancaster at 844-425-8844.
The Alaska Art Fund allows us to purchase works that meet these criteria:
Made by an established artist,
Made by an artist currently living in Alaska, and
Created within the past five years.
Additionally, the Alutiiq Museum requires that all artwork added to its collections meet the guidelines established in its collections policy and its art acquisition standards.