Orilla Verde at the Rio Grande

Take a tour through celebrated Native artist Kay WalkingStick’s long and complex career through a trio of paintings in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection. Learn about the artist’s perspective, influences, and bold artistic voice with Melissa Ho, SAAM’s curator of 20th-century art, who calls WalkingStick “one of the great American painters of our time.” Ho takes a closer look at three works: Two Women II (1973), With Love to Marsden (1995), and Orilla Verde at the Rio Grande (2012). She shares insights into the different phases of WalkingStick’s artistic practice and discusses the artist’s social commentary, which ranges from statements on female autonomy to the Native presence on sacred lands.

This video is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's ongoing series American Art Moments. Join a SAAM expert and go beyond the artwork label to discover the untold stories and rich connections represented in some of the museum's most iconic artworks.