Curator selected for Native american exhibit
- Erika Schaefer
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Monmouth Museum Announces Groundbreaking Exhibition
Curated by Dr. Phoebe Farris, Renowned Native American Scholar
May 17 – September 7, 2026 | Main Gallery
The Monmouth Museum is proud to announce an upcoming exhibition, Native Americans of New Jersey: Past and Present, opening May 17 through September 7, 2026, in recognition of the United States’ 250th anniversary. This powerful and timely exhibit will explore the deep-rooted history, enduring culture, and contemporary presence of Native communities in New Jersey.
The exhibition is curated by Dr. Phoebe Farris (Powhatan-Pamunkey descent), a distinguished Native American scholar, curator, photojournalist, and activist. Dr. Farris brings a career of experience amplifying Indigenous voices through the humanities and the arts. Her curatorial approach centers authentic storytelling, artistic expression, and community collaboration to present a multifaceted portrait of Native life—past, present, and future.
Native Americans of New Jersey is being developed with guidance from a thoughtfully curated advisory committee that includes Indigenous artists and authors, humanities experts, educators, and the Provost of Monmouth University. The exhibit will feature bilingual interpretation, interactive elements for families, and subsidized tours for Title I schools to promote accessibility and inclusion. Artwork in the exhibition will in part be supported by loans from the Art Bridges Collection. Artifacts on display will be primarily from the Monmouth County Historical Association's collections.
“This exhibition reflects the future of the Monmouth Museum, an intentional effort to use our platform to foster empathy, equity, and cultural understanding,” said Erika Schaefer, Executive Director of the Monmouth Museum.
Dr. Farris shares, “I look forward to collaborating with the Indigenous elders and community leaders from the various New Jersey tribes/nations. My Algonquian roots are in Virginia and Washington, DC and our peoples have traveled and traded with each other since time immemorial.”
The exhibition will be on view exclusively at the Monmouth Museum.