Margarete Bagshaw (1964–2015)
“My World Is Not Flat” (2011)
Oil on Linen
Gift of Dan McGuinness, and Forrest and Helen Tindel
Capitol Art Collection
Capitol Art Foundation
Artist Biography: Margarete Bagshaw
Margarete Bagshaw was a celebrated Native American painter from Santa Clara Pueblo and part of a groundbreaking lineage of women artists. She was the daughter of renowned potter Helen Hardin and the granddaughter of Pablita Velarde, both influential figures in 20th-century Native American art. Bagshaw developed a distinctive contemporary style rooted in the traditional stories and forms of her heritage, while embracing modernist abstraction and bold color.
Her works often explore themes of cultural identity, feminine strength, and personal transformation, blending geometric designs with layered texture and vibrant hues. In her later years, Bagshaw ran the Pablita Velarde Museum of Indian Women in the Arts in Santa Fe, dedicated to highlighting the work of Native women artists.
Bagshaw’s “My World Is Not Flat” exemplifies her dynamic use of form and philosophy, challenging viewers to see beyond conventional boundaries—both visual and cultural. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of Native artists who blend tradition with innovation.
