ANAF Projects

Alaska Native Artist Portrait Photography Series

The Alaska Native Artist Portrait Photography Series is a statewide initiative of the Alaska Native Arts Foundation (ANAF) that provides free, professional portraits (and, when feasible, booth/studio detail shots) for Alaska Native artists. These images can be used for artist websites and portfolios, grant and commission applications, gallery outreach, press, and promotional materials—and, with permission, on artist profiles in the Alaska Native Artist Directory.

Why this matters

Today, high-quality imagery is a practical requirement for accessing markets and opportunities. Many Alaska Native artists—especially those in rural and remote communities—face barriers such as geographic isolation, high travel costs, limited access to professional photographers and digital tools, and historic underinvestment in rural cultural economies. By bringing professional photography directly to communities, this project reduces structural barriers to visibility and economic opportunity while supporting artists to share work on their own terms.

What participating artists receive

Each session is designed to be efficient, supportive, and culturally respectful. Artists can expect:

  • Professional portraits (and optional booth/studio detail shots when available)
  • Edited, high-resolution digital files delivered after the session
  • Optional on-site Alaska Native Artist Directory support (enrollment and profile strengthening)
2026 Expansion

In 2025, ANAF piloted this model with sessions in Anchorage (at the Alaska Federation of Natives) and Bethel, photographing over 50 artists.

In 2026, ANAF plans to deliver eight (8) photography sessions statewide, including:

  • Nome (March 2026) – 1 session (scheduled)
  • Anchorage – 2 additional sessions
  • Five more sessions in other Alaska communities (to be confirmed based on partner capacity, community readiness, and artist demand)
Partners

Sessions are hosted in partnership with regional cultural organizations, tribal and community partners, and local venues to support outreach and logistics. ANAF also contracts Alaska-based (and, where possible, Alaska Native) photographers to support culturally authentic representation and expand professional opportunities for Indigenous photographers.

Support this project

Our Portrait Photography Series is designed as a scalable, repeatable model that strengthens artists’ professional capacity while improving the overall quality and trustworthiness of the Alaska Native Artist Directory. ANAF is actively pursuing partnerships that reduce travel costs (including airfare voucher support) so that more sessions can reach rural and hub communities statewide.

Artist Workshops

Alaska Native Arts Foundation hosts hands-on workshops that support mentorship, cultural learning, and intergenerational artistic skill-building. In 2025, we partnered with Anchorage Museum to present a four-workshop series in the Seed Lab, alongside artist outreach through community events and cultural gatherings in Anchorage and the Mat-Su.

2025 Workshops

Yup’ik Maskette Carving: Led by David Angaiak, a Yu’pik mask carver. This beginner-friendly, three-day workshop introduced traditional maskette carving, hand-carving techniques, natural earth pigments, and the cultural history of mask-making from a Yu’pik perspective.

Advanced Beadwork Workshop: Led by Rochelle Adams (Gwich’in). This two-day medallion workshop helped participants build familiarity with tools and materials used to create their own beadwork projects.

Seal Skin Bowtie Sewing Workshop: Led by Joni Speiss, a subsistence harvester originally from Nome and currently based in Anchorage. This class taught the basics of skin sewing through a simple, wearable bowtie project.

Haida Ladle Carving Workshop: Led by Eric Hamar (Haida). In this two-day introductory carving workshop, participants created a ladle while learning core techniques with a hook knife and an adze.

2026 Expansion

We intend to organize 6 workshops during 2026. Each workshop will be built to accommodate up to 10 Alaska Native participants based on a first-come first served registration process. Potential workshop topics include jewelry making, masquette carving, fish skin sewing, baby booty making, grass weaving, qaspeq sewing, or other arts practices as recommended by the ANAF’s Alaska Native Steering Committee.

Partners

This series has been supported by partners including The CIRI Foundation, Municipality of Anchorage, and the Curating Indigenous Circumpolar Cultural Sovereignty program.