Grandma's Atkuk and Golga with Parka. Images courtesy of the artist.
Exhibit Opening Friday, November 7, 4:30–7:00 pm
Lecture at 7:00 pm in the APK Lecture Hall, Alaska State Museum
Juneau – The Alaska State Museum is pleased to announce the opening of Continuing My Grandmother’s Legacy, an exhibition of works by Golga Oscar. Oscar is interested in the traditional and contemporary lifestyle of the Yup’ik culture. Through his knowledge of traditional art forms and sewing skills, he creates cultural attire that becomes a strong visual element in his photographic imagery.
In Continuing My Grandmother’s Legacy, Oscar takes self-portraits wearing parkas, mukluks, and masks from the museum’s collection. Oscar explains that he uses photography to show “the concept of two worlds, Indigenous and Western identity, which tells a story about my art career and how it saved me despite Western influences.”
The exhibition features Oscar’s textile artwork, including Yup’ik headdresses and parkas, as well as ledger drawings and beaded/quillwork artwork. Oscar uses various techniques to create his work. He draws from Yup’ik methods and other methods influenced by Indigenous groups in North America.
Oscar was born and raised in the village of Kasigluk, near Bethel. He is a fluent Yup'ik speaker and is dedicated to keeping his culture and traditions alive and relevant by teaching the next generation about their language and art.
Continuing My Grandmother’s Legacy opens Friday, November 7, 4:30–7:00 pm. Oscar will give a talk about his work at 7:00 pm in the APK Lecture Hall. Both events are free. The exhibit runs through January 10, 2026.
Image: Seal Mask – AKSM2025IM, photograph by Golga Oscar. Yup’ik mask from St. Michael, ASM II-A-1518. Parka made from caribou and wolverine fur, ASM II-A-4955. Sealskin pouch, ASM II-A-4346. Mukluks made by Katie Kernak, ASM II-A-4522. Grass basket, ASM 2003-3-3.
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