From Indigenous survivance to quilting, these exhibitions explore the complex layers of American history and identity. Rosy Simas’s A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind) at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis uses Hodinöšyö:nih philosophies to offer a compassionate, community-focused perspective. Meanwhile, Women Across America at Eric Firestone Gallery in New York celebrates groundbreaking female artists from 1945-1979, including Helen Frankenthaler and Elaine de Kooning.

The Gilcrease Museum’s Indigenous Independence: America 250 delves into the pivotal role Native American nations played in shaping the country. From historic manuscripts to detailed reports, this exhibition highlights both their contributions and conflicts over land and sovereignty. At The Print Center in Philadelphia, America Today: Voices in Contemporary Print examines printmaking’s role in archiving and critiquing contemporary democracy.

The Smithsonian Castle’s American Aspirations curates objects that reflect the nation’s wide-net dreams and shortfalls. From Thomas Edison’s lightbulb to Harriet Tubman’s hymn book, these items tell a story of innovation, improvement, and injustice. Meanwhile, Crystal Bridges Art Museum explores American patriotism through regional quilts and contemporary critiques with Kay WalkingStick’s work.

Seattle Art Museum presents Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest, showcasing modernist works that emerged from the informal Northwest School, blending Surrealism, Social Realism, and Indigenous influences to reflect on changing lifestyles and landscapes in the 1930s and ’40s.