As We See It

“As We See It provides a unique and fascinating perspective into the international significance of contemporary Native American photography. The strength of this book resides in its well-written and extended dialogues with both well-established and lesser-known Indigenous artists. Fricke successfully advances Indigenous perspectives on their own works, as well as on Edward Curtis’s historical photographs.”—Laura E. Smith, author of Horace Poolaw, Photographer of American Indian Modernity

In As We See It, Suzanne Fricke invites readers to explore the work and careers of ten contemporary Native American photographers: Jamison Banks, Anna Hoover, Tom Jones, Larry McNeil, Shelley Niro, Wendy Red Star, Beverly Singer, Matika Wilber, William Wilson, and Tiffiney Yazzie. Inspired by “As We See It”, an exhibition of these artists’ work cocurated by Fricke in 2015, the book showcases the extraordinary achievements of these groundbreaking photographers. As We See It presents dialogues in which the artists share their unique perspectives about the history and current state of photography. Each chapter includes an overview of the photographer’s career as well as examples of the artist’s work. For added context, Fricke includes an introduction, a preface that explores the original exhibition of the same name, and an essay that challenges the ghost of Edward S. Curtis, whose work serves as a counterpoint to the photography of contemporary Native Americans. The text is designed to be read as a whole or in sections for anyone teaching Native American photography. As We See It is an invaluable addition to the library of anyone interested in Native American photography and will be the key source for teachers, researchers, and lovers of photography for years to come.