David Bradley Boxed Notecards

In each of David Bradley’s portraits, meticulous detail and nuanced composition drive an intelligent sociopolitical message. Bradley is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa tribe and, for decades, he has deftly juxtaposed rather heavy concepts with a lighthearted touch, taking on the Southwest art world, critiquing the commodification of Indian culture, and commenting on the political realities of mixing the traditional and modern. He returns to specific imagery such as paper money, letting its unassuming presence help develop his narrative.

Like many of Bradley’s images, Pow Wow Princess is part of a series that parodies masterpieces of Western art, in this case the Mona Lisa. The same goes for American Indian Gothic, Ghost Dancer, one of many that takes on Grant Wood’s iconic American painting. The narrative qualities, bright color, and satirical nature in this notecard set’s four images make frequent appearances in Bradley’s work.

Contains five each of the following notecards:
Pow Wow Princess, Southwest, 2009
American Indian Gothic, Ghost Dancer, 2008
Pocahontas, Over the Hills and Far Away, 2012
Self Portrait, Half Breed, 2010