Niio Perkins, Kanien’kehá:ka Bear Clan, is an award-winning artist whose spectacular beadwork is treasured throughout North America. Her modern aesthetic fuses traditional symbols with organic shapes and vibrant colorways, creating unique pieces inspired by the beauty of her Haudenosaunee culture.
A student of raised beadwork since childhood, Perkins has honed her craft into a much-celebrated art form. Her distinctive creations are prized by Indigenous art and fashion enthusiasts.
Niio Perkins has been a strong presence in Indigenous art fashion and media for over a decade. Her heirloom jewelry creations and traditional and contemporary clothing designs have garnered rave reviews at the Santa Fe Indian Market, Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, National Museum of the American Indian – NYC, as well as top honors at several Indian markets. Her work has been featured in Elle Canada, Native Max and Native Peoples magazines, Women’s Wear Daily, and CBC News. In recent years, she has produced custom designs for notable Canadian fashion retailers La Maison Simons and Hudson’s Bay Company. She is the proud creator of the Element Collection for Manitobah Mukluks, which features her signature giving tree design.
Niio Perkins's lecture is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Each One Inspired: Haudenosaunee Art across the Homelands from the New York State Museum, on display at the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery from October 17 to December 10, 2022.