J. Rae Pictou
Artist Bio: J. Rae Pictou, Mi’kmaq
Rae received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, later getting a B.S. in Anthropology, and her Master’s in American and New England Studies from the University of Southern Maine. She is a professional Mi’kmaw storyteller and glass artist.
As a Mi’kmaw artist, Rae draws inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry of her ancestors’ resistance and survival, infusing her work with elements of tradition and history. Through the settlers’ techniques of glass beads, lampwork, hand faceting, and stained glass, she reclaims indigenous female space and weaves a contemporary narrative that honors the resilience and beauty of Mi’kmaq people in the Dawnland.
Throughout all of her work Rae explores the themes of identity and belonging, using the interplay of light and color to reclaim and redefine Mi’kmaq narratives in a contemporary context. Each art piece acts as a rebuttal of prevalent contemporary ideas that indigenous people are no longer here, reminding viewers of the importance of preserving and honoring indigenous heritage in an ever-changing world.