Barnes Foundation

Philadelphia, PA

Barnes Foundation

Client: The Barnes Foundation
Exhibition Design: Ramona Sakiestewa, LLC., and Andrew Merriell
Year: 2022

In the Tewa language, spoken by several Native American Pueblos of northern New Mexico, Po-Wa-Ha means Water-Wind-Breath, or the energy that flows through all life. This energetic flow permeates both animate and inanimate life.

As part of its centennial year, the Barnes Foundation brought to light Native American art collected by Dr. Albert Barnes and his wife Laura beginning in 1929. The 2022 exhibition juxtaposed borrowed contemporary works to further illuminate the pottery, textiles, and jewelry that the Barneses collected. Yaumu Huang, in consultation with Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi) and Andrew Merriell, produced an innovative exhibition design.

The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue, “Water Wind Breath, Southwest Native Art in the Barnes Foundation,” published by the Yale University Press.