Artist Talk: Monica Rickert-Bolter

Join Monica Rickert-Bolter, Chicago-based visual artist and co-founder of the Center for Native Futures, for a conversation about her work at the intersection of art, community, and Indigenous identity. Drawing from her experiences in the arts ecosystem, she will explore themes such as collaboration with tribal communities, engagement with public and gallery spaces, and the Center’s mission to advance Native fine arts, support contemporary artists, and uplift Indigenous Futurisms.

This event is presented in conjunction with Free Day + Celebration: Homelands and is free to attend. ASL interpretation is included.

About the artist

Monica Rickert-Bolter is a Chicago-based visual artist of Potawatomi and Black heritage. Her artwork uses traditional mediums, such as charcoal and pastels, graphic design, and digital coloring to create expressive characters and tell diverse stories. After her undergrad, Monica became involved with Native nonprofits, combining her love of art and education to develop youth programs and resources, including illustrating children’s books. Monica is a co-founder and the Director of Operations at the Center for Native Futures, a Native fine arts gallery that opened in September 2023. Her artwork has been featured in exhibitions at The National Museum of the American Indian, The Field Museum, the University of North Carolina Stone Center, Watershed Art & Ecology, the National Public Housing Museum, and the Center for Native Futures. Her upcoming collaborative projects include a public art piece with the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights and an Afro-Indigenous Futurist graphic novel with her brother Joel Rickert.