Akron Art Museum to Host Only Midwest Stop for Kent Monkman Exhibition

AKRON, OHIO — The Akron Art Museum is set to become the only Midwest destination for a major traveling exhibition by Kent Monkman, an internationally recognized Cree artist known for challenging colonial history through monumental painting. Opening April 11, 2026, “History Is Painted by the Victors” features works that rethink traditional European art styles to tell the stories of Indigenous and queer communities. The exhibition comes to Ohio following runs at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Denver Art Museum. It includes significant loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and various private collections, bringing pieces to the region that are rarely seen together. Monkman’s work does not just focus on the aesthetics of the past. It uses classical techniques to bring uncomfortable truths about the present into the light. These paintings address modern crises such as climate change and the ongoing impact of government policies on Indigenous populations. Monkman, who was born in 1965 and is a member of the Fisher River Cree Nation, often uses his gender-fluid alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, to subvert art history and reclaim Indigenous perspectives. The paintings are massive in size and detail, moving between scenes of grief, humor and pride. According to the museum, the collection spans more than two decades of Monkman’s career, serving as a midcareer survey for an artist whose work now resonates across international borders. The museum’s CEO and executive director, Jon Fiume, noted that the facility sits on the traditional lands of several nations, including the Miami, Shawnee and Wyandot. He said the museum has a responsibility to amplify voices that expand the public’s understanding of history. The Akron Art Museum, located at One South High in a building designed by the Viennese firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, currently houses more than 7,000 works of art, with a heavy focus on contemporary painting and photography. Area residents can attend a free artist conversation with Monkman on Friday, April 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Public Library Main Branch Auditorium. An opening celebration will follow at the museum from 7:30 to 9 p.m. that gives the public a first look at the exhibition before its official debut the next morning. The exhibition remains on view through Aug. 17, 2026. General admission for adults is $12, but the museum offers free gallery admission to all visitors every Thursday. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.