Despite their problematic elements, Curtis’ photos remain a resource of great historic value.
Edward S. Curtis/Library of Congress
In 2016, the Portland Art Museum hosted an exhibition called Contemporary Native American Photographers and the Edward Curtis Legacy.
There were mixed thoughts on the exhibit and whether Curtis’ work had “informed or misinformed” the public’s notion of Native American culture, but curators told Artsy they believed his work provided a stepping stone for people to see and understand Native American lives and to learn about contemporary Native American photographers.
Curtis’ photos were displayed alongside the work of photographers including Zig Jackson, Wendy Red Star, and Will Wilson.
