it takes a long time to stay here: Paintings by Jordan Ann Craig

Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne) creates large-scale, geometric, abstract paintings that reward close, sustained attention. Her intricate designs draw inspiration from her chosen home, New Mexico’s Pojoaque Valley, as well as Northern Cheyenne and Cheyenne beadwork and quillwork, Pueblo pottery, and other traditional art forms. Created with controlled precision on the surface, the edges of her paintings remain intentionally unfinished, reflecting Craig’s exploration of the balance between structure and imperfection. 

The exhibition title, it takes a long time to stay here, is drawn from the poem “spinning air” by Northern Cheyenne poet m.s. RedCherries. For Craig, the line suggests how staying in place fosters deeper connections with people, cultures, and landscapes. As you move through the gallery, notice how your interpretation shifts with prolonged engagement, influenced by each painting’s title, composition, and relationship to other paintings.  

See more here.

This exhibition was curated by The Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University.

Support provided by Art Bridges, the Hillman Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments.

Full artwork credit: Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne, b. 1992), Sharp Tongue; Used to Cut Deep, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 70 x 70 x 2 1/2 in. Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Julie and Lawrence Bernstein Family Art Acquisition Fund purchase. Courtesy the artist and Hales, London and New York. Photography by JSP Art Photography.