Sealaska Heritage Institute Press Release

SHI announces winners of 2026 Juried Art Show, Youth Exhibit

Event to be broadcast, streamed live

June 4, 2026

Seven artists have taken top prizes at Sealaska Heritage Institute’s 13th biennial Juried Art Show and Competition, and three young artists also placed in SHI’s 7th biennial Juried Youth Art Exhibit.  

Juried Art Show and Competition

Tlingit artist James Johnson took home top prizes in the following areas for his piece Bear Tunic:

  • Best of Show
  • Best of Formline
  • Best of Division: Sewing
  • Best of Skin and Fur Category: Sewing

Haida artist Greg Frisby won Best of Contemporary for his 2D relief carving and painting Eagle Mother.

Pieces selected for Best of Category then competed for Best of Division:

Carving and Sculpture Division

Division Winner

  • Sea Otter Bowl by James Johnson (Tlingit)

Category Winner

  • Wood
    • Sea Otter Bowl by James Johnson (Tlingit)

Honorable Mention

  • Woodworm Dreams by Patrizia “Patty” Fiorella (Tlingit, Haida)

2D and Relief Carving Division

Division Winner

  • Wrestling Match by Bill Pfeifer, Jr., (Tlingit)

Category Winner

  • Relief Carving
    • Wrestling Match by Bill Pfeifer, Jr., (Tlingit)

Honorable Mention

  • Spiritual Embrace by Bill Pfeifer, Jr., (Tlingit)

Sewing Division

Division Winner

  • Bear Tunic by James Johnson (Tlingit)

Category Winner

  • Button Blankets & Vests
    • Vest for Gaad Gaas by Karl L. Hoffman (Haida)

Category Winner

  • Skin & Fur
    • Bear Tunic by James Johnson (Tlingit)

Weaving Division

Division Winner

  • Seal Spots Waist Robe by Kaasteen Jill Meserve (Tlingit)

Category Winner

  • Ravenstail
    • Seal Spots Waist Robe by Kaasteen Jill Meserve (Tlingit)

Category Winner

  • Basketry
    • Kigwáay by Lyndsey Brollini (Haida)

Haida artist Karl L. Hoffman won 2nd place in formline for his piece Vest for Gaad Gaas.

Other Pieces Accepted for the Show:

  • Eagle Panel by James Johnson (Tlingit)
  • Sunshine Love for Winter by Amy Tessaro (Carcross/First Nation)
  • Bentwood Skate Deck by Steven Cranston (Tlingit)
  • Ancestral Tide Cross-Body by Carrie Dodson (Tlingit/Haida)
  • Martina Waves by Krystle Narino (Tlingit)
  • Yukon Barbie by Kimi Lee Boal (Tlingit)
  • Vest by Janice L. Hotch (Tlingit)
  • Sḵ’awaan Gya’andaaw by Skil Jaadee White (Haida)
  • Ravenstail Headband by Sainteen Katie Sagoot Carlson (Tlingit)
  • The Swift Belt by Sainteen Git Kuyaa Kinsie Young (Haida)
  • Xíxchʼ Díx̱ʼtú Sʼaaḵxʼí Gwéil (Frog Backbone Bag) by Gush Tlein (Levi Rinehart) (Tlingit/Haida)
  • Glacier Bear Cub by Wooshkindein Da.Aat Lily Hope (Tlingit)
  • Spirit Ones Together by Patrizia (Patty) Fiorella (Tlingit)
  • Raven’s Treasures by Jennifer Younger and Jennie Wheeler (Tlingit)

Northwest Coast artists David A. Boxley and Holly Churchill served as jurors for the competition. They reviewed the pieces blindly, meaning the names of artists who submitted pieces were not disclosed. The Juried Art Show will be on display in the Nathan Jackson Gallery at the Walter Soboleff Building in Juneau through Dec. 4.

Juried Youth Art Exhibit

The Juried Youth Art Exhibit includes 17 objects made by 10 high school students. The following artists took top prizes:

  • First place: Tsimshian Portrait Mask by Elizabeth Anderson, Metlakatla High School
  • Second place: Tsimshian Female Portrait Mask by Stella Dixon, Metlakatla High School
  • Third place: Twined Hat with Raised Diamond Design by Aurora Scott, Ketchikan High School
  • Honorable Mention: Transforming Eagle Naxnox by Elizabeth Anderson

The 2026 Juried Youth Art Exhibit juror was Jackson Polys, Naakushtáa, also known as Stephen Paul Jackson, a Tlingit artist and educator.

“Thank you, young artists, for bringing your creativity, skill, dedication and sense of play to the 2026 Youth Art Exhibit,” Polys wrote in a statement. “I am honored to witness your growing skills as they continue to allow you freedom to express your senses of humor and persistence, ensuring a bright future for our people. Thank you for sharing your gifts, for sharing your wonderful work with us.”

The youth exhibit will be on display at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center through June 26.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a tribal nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.

CONTACT: Kathy Dye, SHI Communications and Publications Deputy Director, 907.321.4636, kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com.

Caption: “Bear Tunic,” Best of Show, by Tlingit artist James Johnson. Photo by Brian Wallace, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute. Note: News outlets are welcome to use this photo for coverage of this story. For a higher-res version, contact kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com