Shelley Niro facts for kids

Shelley Niro RCA (born 1954) is a talented artist and filmmaker. She is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation. Shelley is famous for her amazing photographs and films. She often uses herself and her family in her art. Her goal is to challenge old, untrue ideas about Indigenous women.

Shelley is a very versatile artist. She works with photography, painting, sculpting, and even beadwork. She also makes independent films. She belongs to the Turtle clan of the Kanienkehaka (Mohawk Nation). This nation is part of the Six Nations of the Grand River.

Growing Up and Learning

Shelley Niro was born in Niagara Falls, New York. She grew up on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. This reserve is near Brantford, Ontario, in Canada.

Her home was a creative place. She loved to entertain her brothers and sisters. They would sing, tell stories, and draw pictures together. Her family has always been a big part of her artwork. Many family members have even appeared in her art pieces.

Shelley started her art journey by studying performing arts. She earned a diploma from Cambrian College in 1972. Later, in 1990, she got a fine arts degree. She studied painting and sculpture at the Ontario College of Art. Shelley continued her education, earning a master's degree in fine arts in 1997. This was from the University of Western Ontario. In 2000, she went to the Banff Centre for the Arts to learn about filmmaking.

Shelley Niro's Art Career

Shelley Niro explores the history and stories of the Haudenosaunee people. She also focuses on the journey of the Mohawk people. She is well-known for her photography. Her photos often mix pictures of modern Indigenous women with traditional Mohawk images. She uses herself, her friends, and her family as models.

In her 1992 photo series, This Land Is Mime Land and 500 Year Itch, she used humor. She included fun pop culture references. These included famous figures like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Shelley often creates art in pairs (diptychs) or groups of three (triptychs). She uses special photo techniques. These include photo montage, hand-tinting, and sepia tones.

Some people compare Shelley Niro to another artist, Cindy Sherman. Both artists play different roles in their work. They do this to break down stereotypes. However, Shelley Niro never completely hides herself. She wants you to recognize her in her different characters.

As her skills grew, Shelley started featuring her family in her art. Her piece Time Travels Through Us shows her mother and two sisters. It represents how social, cultural, and personal values pass down. These values go from one generation to the next. The colors purple and silver in the art show Iroquois culture. A turtle in her art represents her spirit animal. It also refers to the Turtle Clan, which she is a part of.

Most of Shelley's art makes you think. It explores topics like gender differences and cultural appropriation. It also shows the importance of cultural influences. She uses different art forms to share her ideas. Even with serious topics like cultural loss, Shelley uses humor. She uses satire to challenge wrong ideas about her culture. She also pokes fun at old, outdated stereotypes.

In 2023, a special exhibition of Shelley's work opened. It was called Shelley Niro: 500 Year Itch. It was shown at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It also went to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa also hosted it. This exhibition included her newest film, Café Daughter.

Exhibitions of Her Work

Shelley Niro's art has been shown in many places. Here are some of the group exhibitions:

• 1999: Across Borders: Beadwork in Iroquois Life, McCord Museum, Montreal, Quebec
• 2019: Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• 2022: Radical Stitch, MacKenzie Art Gallery

She has also had solo exhibitions:

• Shelley Niro: 500 Year Itch was put together by the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It traveled with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) also helped with the exhibition.

Films and Videos

Shelley Niro has directed and produced many films and videos:

• It Starts with a Whisper (1993)
• Overweight with Crooked Teeth (1997)
• Honey Moccasin (1998), starring Tantoo Cardinal
• The Shirt (2003), starring Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie
• The Flying Head (2008)
• Kissed by Lightning (2009)
• The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw (2019)
• Café Daughter (2023)

Awards and Recognition

Shelley Niro has received many awards for her amazing work:

• In 1997, the National Museum of American History named her a fellow.
• She won the Walking in Beauty Award for her 1992 film It Starts With a Whisper.
• Her film Honey Moccasin won "Best Experimental Work" at the Dreamspeakers Festival in Edmonton, Alberta. It also won "Best Feature," "Best Actress," "Best Actor," and "Best Director" at the Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• She became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
• Her short film The Shirt was shown at the 2003 Venice Biennale. It was also shown at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.
• In 2017, Shelley Niro received a Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts.
• Her art has been shown in many museums in Canada and the United States. This includes the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI).
• She has also received fellowships and residencies at major art schools. She was even a "Guest Selector" for the NMAI's "Native American Film + Video Festival."
• In 2009, she won the "Milagro Award for Best Indigenous Film" for Kissed by Lightning. This was at the Santa Fe Film Festival.
• She won the Scotiabank Photography Award in 2017.
• In 2020, she received the Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award. This award recognized her outstanding work in photography.

A Quote from Shelley Niro

"Some people think that to be Indian, you have to do certain things, but I'm saying that you're Indian no matter what you do, but you have to decide what you want to do and you have to ask questions, like, am I doing something because it's expected of me to do, or am I doing it because I really believe this and it's really a part of me. So I'm always questioning that, saying, "Am I being truthful to myself? How much a part of what I do is part of my psychology?" —Shelley Niro

Her Life Now

Shelley Niro currently lives in Brantford, Ontario, with her husband.

See also

In Spanish: Shelley Niro para niños