The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Project

Nayana Lafond

September 2 -29
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield MA

Open Wed-Fri, 11-3 and by appointment
and Thursday, September 15, 5-8p.m.

No registration needed for Opening Reception.

This project began on May 5, 2020 when Nayana LaFond painted one portrait of a woman, Lauraina Bear, from Saskatchewan. The response to this one portrait was overwhelming. Nayana decided to do one more. Following the completion of the second painting, the Indigenous community reached out to Nayana in even greater number. As of May 2022, she has completed approximately 80 portraits and has a queue of at least 30 waiting at all times.

These works of art have been exhibited at galleries and museums in Connecticut, Montana and Massachusetts.

Nayana LaFond is a full-time multidisciplinary artist and artivist who resides with her daughter in Western Massachusetts. Her paintings can be seen in collections in galleries and museums around the world. Nayana was founding Chief Curator for The Whitney Center for the Arts, Pittsfield. She also sits on several arts organization boards, including Artist Organized Art, and is an advisor for Be The Change and The Native Youth Empowerment Foundation. Nayana’s work often deals with issues related to trauma and violence including her experiences as a leukemia, bone marrow transplant, and domestic violence survivor.

Learn more about University Days 2022: We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast. Lectures, art shows, walking tours and more!

Learning about the United State’s Native American Heritage is vital to weaving a more equitable social fabric for everyone. If you would like to contribute to our continuing work towards this goal click here to make a contribution to OLLI’s Northeast Indigenous Initiative, found in the “Designation” drop down menu.

We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast is supported in part by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council through the local cultural councils of Alford-Egremont, Dalton, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Mount Washington, North Berkshire, Otis, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield and Stockbridge and with in-kind support and partnership from Berkshire Community College and the Lichtenstein Center.