Islands Beyond Blue

The arts of Oceania gallery will reopen with the presentation of a new temporary exhibition, Islands Beyond Blue: Niki Hastings-McFall and Treasures from the Oceania Collection. This presentation showcases the work of celebrated contemporary artist Niki Hastings-McFall, who will create site-specific work in conversation with works from the DAM's Arts of Oceania collection.

Hastings-McFall, who is of Sāmoan and Pākehā descent, has been credited with shepherding contemporary Pacific art onto an international stage. Known for her large-scale and immersive "lei bombing" installations, she will use hundreds of synthetic lei to create an installation. Her work will be presented in dialogue with approximately 25 treasures—Pacific Peoples prefer the term "treasures" over "objects"—from the DAM's collection that illustrate regional historic arts alongside new innovations.

This inaugural exhibition aims to dispel romantic notions of the Pacific Islands as a tourist's paradise through a nuanced exploration of the area's vibrant cultural landscape, challenging visitors to examine their perception of this vast and extremely diverse region. A full reinstallation of the arts of Oceania gallery, opening in 2024, will further highlight the museum's holdings of approximately 1,000 treasures that represent the vast artistic heritage of Oceania.

Marquesan artist, Tattooed Leg Form, Early 1800s. Wood; 22⅝ x 6 x 7¾ in. Denver Art Museum: Native Arts acquisition funds, 1948.795. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Maori artist, Tauihu (Canoe Figurehead), About 1800. Wood and Pāua (abalone shell); 15 7/8 x 7 x 42 in. Denver Art Museum: Native Arts acquisition funds, 1949.4464. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Marquesan artist, Ear Piercer, Late 1800s. Whale ivory; 5 3/4 in. x 3/4 in. Denver Art Museum: Native Arts acquisitions funds, 1949.4471. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Marquesan artist, Ti'i (Stone deity), About 1800-50. Lava stone; 14 7/8 in. x 5 1/4 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Vincent and Mary Price, 1949.4545. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Marquesan artist, Pa'e Kaha (Headdress), 1850-1900. Turtle shell, white shell, coconut fiber, and buttons; 18 1/2 in. x 1 1/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Native Arts acquisitions funds, 1952.732. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Marquesan artist, Uuhe (Earring), about 1875. Tortoise shell, porpoise teeth, and glass beads; 3 ½ x 3 in. Denver Art Museum: Anonymous Gift, 1952.734. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Asmat artist, Bis Memorial Pole, 1900s. Wood, fiber, and paint; 128 x 9¾ x 28¾ in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George G. Anderman, 1991.976. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Melanesian artist, Nguzunguzu (Canoe Figurehead), early 1900s. Wood and mother-of-pearl; 5 x 4 x 4.5 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift in memory of George Gibbs Anderman, 1997.2. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Niki Hastings-McFall, Lei Bombing installation at the Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand, 2013. © Niki Hastings-McFall. Installation photography © and courtesy of the Pātaka Art + Museum.

Maori artist, Tauihu (Canoe Figurehead), About 1800. Wood and Pāua (abalone shell); 15 7/8 x 7 x 42 in. Denver Art Museum: Native Arts acquisition funds, 1949.4464. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Artworks from this gallery are part of the Denver Art Museum's Arts of Oceania collection. In the more than 80 years since the DAM acquired its first work of art from Oceania, this collection has grown to approximately 1,000 objects.

Learn more about the Arts of Oceania department and its curatorial staff below.

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