Alan Michelson

Alan Michelson, a Mohawk member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, is an internationally recognized figure in contemporary art. For over 25 years, he has created socially engaged, site-specific works that challenge dominant historical narratives, often drawing on Indigenous and Western cultural traditions. His multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, painting, photography, sound, and video, with each project rooted in local contexts and cultural memory. Michelson's art seeks to recover and amplify voices that have been historically silenced, transforming spaces and conversations in the process.

Michelson's latest installation, The Knowledge Keepers, commissioned for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), stands as a bold reimagining of Indigenous identity in contemporary America. The work features two bronze and platinum-gilded sculptures of Julia Marden, an Aquinnah Wampanoag artist, and Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., a Nipmuc cultural steward. Portrayed in active, dynamic poses—Marden with a turkey feather fan and Gaines delivering an oration—the figures embody leadership, resilience, and the continuity of cultural knowledge. The installation confronts and re-contextualizes 'Appeal to the Great Spirit', the iconic yet controversial equestrian statue by Cyrus Dallin that has occupied the MFA plaza since 1912. While Dallin's work has been critiqued for perpetuating the trope of Native Americans as a "vanishing race," Michelson's sculptures present a powerful counter-narrative, emphasizing survival, agency, and the enduring vibrancy of Indigenous cultures.

UAP collaborated with Michelson, NYCAP3D, Fabhaus, and Torsilieri & Bay Crane to execute the artist's vision. Using photogrammetry, NYCAP3D created detailed 3D scans of Marden and Gaines. Using these models, our design team worked with Michelson to combine the different models and add some final details. This project marked a milestone for UAP's Shanghai foundry, as it was their first venture into PMMA printing. This included pattern assembly, casting, welding, and finishing.

The journey of The Knowledge Keepers reflects the artist's vision and the dedication of countless hands and minds worldwide. From the initial photogrammetry scans in New York to the final installation in Boston, UAP was proud to contribute to this transformative work. This installation is a visual statement— a profound reminder of Indigenous peoples' enduring leadership, resilience, and cultural contributions in the face of history's erasures.