News & Events

Rainmaker Gallery is delighted to welcome back Mvskoke artist Rick Grimster (b.1945) who burst onto the art scene last year with two hugely successful solo shows. ‘COLORFIELDS’, his third exhibition, juxtaposes his latest works on paper alongside earlier paintings on canvas. Grimster’s unmistakable Indigenous colour sensibility and mastery of texture is ever present, as is […]

Horsepower brings together paintings and photography by seven accomplished Indigenous artists. It celebrates the enduring relationship between horses and humans. This exhibition invites us to slow down and visualise a world without cars. It hopes to stimulate a conversation about modes of transportation. Should technological innovation play only a small part in our sustainable future? […]

Join us for a special Artist Talk with multi award-winning Native American sculptor Addison Karl. Hear about his fascinating artistic and geographical journey from his birthplace in Denver, Colorado to his current activities in Venice, Italy. Addison Karl is deeply connected to his Chickasaw and Choctaw heritage. His intricate sculptures are the result of meticulous […]

This spring we are showcasing the work of four contrasting contemporary Native American artists. Fine art photographer Cara Romero of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Randy L Barton, Diné from Arizona, Cotswold based painter Rick Grimster, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and sculptor Addison Karl, Chickasaw and Choctaw. Romero recently headlined major exhibitions at […]

Rainmaker Gallery is delighted to welcome back Mvskoke artist Rick Grimster for his second solo exhibition ‘Winter Trees’. In this exhibition Grimster presents a series of acrylic paintings created over a period of eleven years in his Cotswold home. Grimster’s life story is as captivating as his paintings that elevate the English landscape with an […]

In this solo exhibition Chickasaw artist Billy Hensley presents a series of abstract paintings embellished with traditional Indigenous beadwork. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Hensley is a self-taught artist who draws his inspiration from his life, the history of his family, the Chickasaw people and the world around him. Hensley works mainly in acrylic paint […]

We are delighted to welcome artist Marla Allison back to Bristol with an exhibition of works on canvas. A celebrated painter from the Laguna Pueblo tribe, Marla was the artist in residence at Rainmaker Gallery for a month in the summer of 2018 when we presented her superb solo exhibition “Painter From The Desert‘. Five […]

In this series of abstract paintings Diné artist Randy Barton explores the Bauhaus Movement through the lens of graffiti art. Barton is a neo-contemporary Native artist, designer, dancer, DJ and music producer from the Navajo Nation in Arizona. The foundation of his work derives from the unique combination of his background in graffiti art and […]

In this solo exhibition artist Rick Grimster explores his relationship to the country of his birth. A war baby born to a Mvskoke father and an English mother in London in 1945, his life is but one of the numerous unique stories that make up the Indigenous diaspora. Richard Geoffrey Grimster is an enrolled citizen […]

This exhibition showcases Pacific Northwest coast ‘formline’ serigraphs from Tlingit artist Preston Singletary and Coast Salish printmakers Peter and Araquin Boome. Formline is a distinctive style of art common to the Indigenous nations of the Pacific Northwest coast and Alaska. Each nation, and indeed each artist, has their own subtle yet distinctive stylistic differences. The […]

This exhibition brings together the work of Jason Wesaw and Douglas Klemm. Both artists are citizens of Pokégnek Bodéwadmik (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians).The Potawatomi Nation are known as the ‘Keepers of The Fire’ amongst the tribes of the Three Fires Confederacy. Both artists express a profound relationship to and respect for the land.The minimalist […]

It is with immense joy and gratitude that we invite you to join us on Tuesday September 27th to celebrate the official launch of our new Bristol gallery space! The launch will be attended by three visiting artists and their families from the USA. We are delighted to welcome to Bristol Jason Wesaw and Douglas Klemm from […]

Visit us in our new home! After two months of renovation and preparation our new space is finally ready for visitors. Our first trading day is today, Tuesday July 19th. Our new address is 140 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2RS and we also have a new telephone number – 0117 973 0398. Opening hours are Tuesday – Friday 10am – […]

Our 2022 spring exhibition will be the last in our current gallery home. The artworks are chosen for their joyful colours in celebration of the happy times we have spent here throughout the last sixteen years. The show brings together the work of several artist, some new and some familiar. It includes Cara Romero’s photographic […]

Our winter exhibition showcases Pacific Northwest Coast ‘formline’ serigraphs from Preston Singletary, meticulous acrylic paintings by Marla Allison and Jasmine Coe, minimalist serigraphs by Jordan Ann Craig, fine art photographic portraiture from Cara Romero, a digital composite photographic print by the late Shan Goshorn, mercurial tintype portraits by Kali Spitzer and Will Wilson, sepia figurative […]

This exhibition brings together two artists from different backgrounds who share a common experience. It documents the ongoing journeys of cultural reconnection by painter Jasmine Coe (Wiradjuri & British) and textile artist Melinda Schwakhofer (Muscogee (Creek) & Austrian-American). Both artists grew up geographically and culturally separated from their respective Indigenous families. Reaching out to their […]

For over 30 years Rainmaker has been the only dedicated contemporary Native American art gallery in the UK and Europe but our future is under threat and we need your help now! The gallery space that we have occupied for the past 15 years is under new ownership and we have to relocate. Although this forced […]

Continuing with our theme of seasonal colours, the 2021 summer exhibition is inspired by the colour blue. It brings together photography, fine art prints and paintings by thirteen Indigenous artist from fourteen tribal Nations, including George Alexander (Muscogee), Marla Allison (Laguna Pueblo), Shonto Begay (Diné), Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne), Yatika Starr Fields (Osage, Cherokee, […]

Check out the cover of the June issue of The Bristol Magazine! We are delighted that the magazine chose to feature a glorious photographic image from our spring exhibition. ‘NAOMI’ by fine art photographer Cara Romero is a portrait of a young Chumash woman dressed in her traditional tribal regalia, all made by artist Leah […]

Rainmaker Gallery is celebrating 30 years of exhibiting contemporary Native American art in the UK. Throughout the year the gallery will be showing artworks selected in accordance with seasonal colour pallets, including as many artist from the three decades as possible. This spring exhibition is filled with joyful spring greens, blossom pinks and sunshine yellows. […]

Rainmaker Gallery is currently showing a selection of paintings, fine art prints and photographs chosen for their seasonal palette of rich autumnal oranges, reds and golds. The featured artwork, ‘JULIA’, is a portrait of a young woman from the Cochiti Pueblo tribe, photographed by Chemehuevi fine art photographer Cara Romero. Julia stands in a specially […]

For the Pueblo tribes of the Southwest, dragonflies are guiding spirits that lead us to water. Water is life. This fact is most apparent to desert dwelling people for whom the dragonfly holds a special place in their cultures and features regularly in their art.  These magical beings with iridescent wings are an embodiment of […]

On this the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, I am delighted to announce the arrival of Pat Pruitt’s long awaited feather earrings! These magnificent feathers are crafted from titanium and individually anodised to create the unique colour combinations of each pair. The markings reference eagle feathers and the joyful […]

‘Emergence 2020’ marks the re-emergence of our communities from the confines inflicted on the world by the Covid-19 virus. The works selected for this exhibition reference healing, ceremony, meditation, nature and resilience by eight artists from tribes across the USA. This group show introduces organic works on paper by Monty Little (Diné) and includes ledger […]

The Cube Cinema, Friday 20th March, 8pm Here at Rainmaker Gallery we are looking forward to welcoming the first day of spring with a very special visitor. Gwaai Edenshaw, co-writer, co-director and art director of the multi award winning feature film ‘Edge of the Knife’, will be visiting Bristol for a one-off film screening and […]

Earlier this month The Guardian published an article on Native American art in the UK in which writer Matthew Wilcox described Rainmaker Gallery as ‘The torchbearer for Native American art”. “The torchbearer for contemporary Native American art in the UK has been Rainmaker Gallery in Bristol. Its latest show, Pattern, explores the recurring presence of […]

A huge thank you to everyone who came to the opening of our wonderful winter exhibition PATTERN, especially featured Native artists Marla Allison (Laguna Pueblo) and Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne). It was particularly special to welcome back Marla for her third visit to Bristol in three years! It was Jordan’s first visit to Bristol […]

You are warmly invited to join us for the official launch of our winter exhibition ‘Pattern‘. Meet visiting artists Jordan Ann Craig (Northern Cheyenne) and Marla Allison (Laguna Pueblo) at Rainmaker Gallery on Thursday 28th November, 6pm – 8pm. Jordan Ann Craig will give an informal gallery talk about her work at the beginning of […]

Artist reception: Thursday 28th November 6pm – 8pm at Rainmaker Gallery with visiting artists Jordan Ann Craig and Marla Allison. At 6pm Jordan will give a short gallery talk about her work in the exhibition.  In this group exhibition Native American artists explore the recurring presence of pattern in Indigenous cultures. Drawing inspiration from nature, material […]

Every August Rainmaker Gallery shuts down for a few weeks whilst I go on my travels. In case any of you were wondering where I go and what I get up to here is a photo that encapsulates a typical moment of my summer trips. This shot, taken by Diné photographer Larry Price, captures one of […]

In this solo exhibition of acrylic paintings Chickasaw artist Billy Hensley honours two Native American trailblazers: Chickasaw actress and storyteller Te Ata and Olympic gold medalist Jim Thorpe. Prophetically, Thorpe’s Sauk (Sac and Fox) name Wa-Tho-Huk translates as ‘path lit by a great flash of lightning’ or more simply Bright Path. Hensley interweaves images of […]

Book now for our summer Artist Talk with Leah Mata and learn about Northern Chumash traditional arts and culture. Leah Mata is a member of the yak tityu tityu (the people) Northern Chumash tribe, located on the Central California Coast. As a traditional Northern Chumash artist, Leah creates contemporary living forms of regalia and jewellery […]

Rainmaker Gallery was recently featured on national radio with our Indigenous Women’s Group. We were delighted to be invited to join Clare Balding on Ramblings for a walk in the english countryside. You can listen to the Ramblings episode on BBC Sounds HERE Ramblings “Clare Balding meets a group of native American women who live […]

Join Canuupa Hanska Luger for an inclusive open discussion and learn about Settlement, his planned occupation of Central Park, Plymouth, during the Mayflower 400 festival in 2020. Cannupa Hanska Luger is an internationally celebrated, multi-disciplinary artist and activist, and recipient of the Burke Prize, a prestigious national award for creative innovation. Raised on the Standing […]

Thursday 9th May: an open discussion with artist activist Cannupa Hanska Luger followed by a gallery reception (see below). This spring Rainmaker Gallery showcases a new generation of Native American artists.  These young creatives bring an explosive visual mix of techniques, experimentation and individual perspectives that shatter clichéd perceptions of ‘Indian’ art and life. “As a Native […]

This winter Rainmaker Gallery is celebrating our tenth Christmas on Coldharbour Road. Join us for a festive drink on Friday November 30th between 6 and 8pm. This will be the perfect opportunity for you to see our winter exhibition ‘Birds Beasts & Butterflies’ and to do a spot of Christmas shopping at the same time. […]

This winter exhibition brings together works by several contemporary Native American artists who, through a variety of styles and media, express their individual connections to the natural world. Pacific Northwest Coast artist Preston Singletary immortalises regional fauna in traditional Tlingit formline serigraphs. The black and white photography of Eugene Tapahe encounters iconic American wildlife in [...]

This month we are delighted to join forces with The Native Spirit Film Festival and the Bloomsbury festival in London. We will be exhibiting the breathtaking portraits of fine art photographer and social justice advocate Cara Romero at the Crypt Gallery. The exhibition ‘Life Blood‘, curated by Ash Kotak, explores activist art as realised by a group of international artists, film makers, writers […]

Over the last year I have had the pleasure of working not only with delightful artists but also with a team of dedicated academics from the Universities of Kent and East Anglia. In a project called ‘Beyond the Spectacle’, they are researching and mapping indigenous presence in the UK. They share their facsinating findings in regular blog […]

Native American painter Marla Allison brings a flavour of the American southwest to Bristol this summer. Stephanie Boxall met this exciting contemporary artist. Water is important to Marla Allison, and not just because she grew up in the desert lands of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico. As part of her Native American heritage, she also […]

A solo exhibition of acrylic paintings by 2018 artist-in-residence Marla Allison. In this solo exhibition artist Marla Allison presents paintings created in her Laguna Pueblo studio, alongside canvases painted during a four week artist residency at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery in May of this year. This exhibition opens on 6th June with a one […]

Learn about the presence and presentation of Native American and First Nations art in the UK directly from Native artists, curators and researchers at this one day symposium. Meet artists Marla Allison (Laguna Pueblo), Pat Pruitt (Laguna Pueblo and Chiricahua Apache), Sarah Sense (Chitimacha / Choctaw) and George Alexander (Muscogee (Creek)).  This unique event begins at […]

Last month we were thrilled to deliver this spectacular pot to The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. The pot titled ‘American Diastrophism’ was commissioned from Cochiti Pueblo artist Diego Romero by Rainmaker Gallery, especially for the museum. Many thanks to Diego and Cara Romero, and also to the museum.      Diego Romero is well known for his ceramic vessels […]

A solo exhibition of ground-breaking works by Native American fine art photographer Cara Romero. Cara Romero was raised on the Chemehuevi Valley Indian reservation along the California shoreline of Havasu Lake in the heart of the Mojave Desert. She is a born visual storyteller with a unique ability to illuminate and communicate subtle and complex perspectives […]

To coincide with the opening of our Spring 2018 exhibition CARA ROMERO, on International Women’s Day, Rainmaker Gallery Director Joanne Prince will give a talk entitled ‘Native American Photographers’ focussing on the work of Chemeheuvi fine art photographer Cara Romero. Free lecture! Book now to hear Rainmaker Gallery Director Joanne Prince speak about remarkable Native […]

This group exhibition celebrates contemporary Native American artists who are each renowned as great colourists: Tony Tiger, Yatika Starr Fields, Nocona Burgess, Debra Yepa-Pappan, Cara Romero, Billy Hensley, Dan Viets Lomahaftewa Colour by itself is a truly cross-cultural experience and yet is often inflected by specific cultural traditions, as in the paintings of artist and curator […]

Revisit our 2017 spring exhibition ‘WE ARE NATIVE WOMEN’ in this short gallery tour.   with thanks to Gabriel Mozart Stephen Abeyta for the video and Andy Pink for the music.

Upfest is Europes biggest street art and graffiti festival and it takes place right here in Bristol every year. In July, painter and muralist Yatika Fields became the first ever Native American artist to participate in this legendary event. Rainmaker Gallery invited Yatika Fields to Bristol for a solo exhibition of paintings and to collaborate with celebrated […]

Artist Reception: Tuesday 25th July 6 – 8pm Join us for our summer exhibition reception and to welcome Yatika Starr Fields to Bristol. The reception takes place on Tuesday 25 July from 6 – 8pm at Rainmaker Gallery. Everyone welcome!   Artist Talk by Yatika Fields Tuesday 25th July, 3pm – 4pm Friends Meeting House, 126 Hampton […]

A solo exhibition showcasing the recent work of contemporary Native American painter and muralist Yatika Starr Fields. Artist Talk with Yatika Starr Fields, 25th July 3-4pm at Friends Meeting Hse BS6 6JE Artist reception with Yatika Starr Fields, 25th July 6-8pm at Rainmaker Gallery Yatika Starr Fields’ paintings pack a visual punch through intensity of colour […]

Check out the April issue of The Bristol magazine! Our amazing spring exhibition WE ARE NATIVE WOMEN is featured on the cover and in a three page article. Read the full length article in the on line edition here: http://thebristolmag.co.uk/beyond-pocahontas-native-women/  

Celebrating Native American women on the 400th anniversary of the death of Pocahontas. Artist Talk with Marla Allison, 23rd march 3-4pm Exhibition opening with Marla Allison, 23rd March 6-8pm at Rainmaker Gallery. We Are Native Women celebrates the strength and diversity of Native American women through the recent work of twelve contemporary Indigenous North American [...]

New Christmas Hours From now until Christmas the gallery will be opening on Mondays in addition to our usual hours. For the last minute Christmas shoppers the gallery will be open from 10am until 3pm on Christmas Eve. Rainmaker Gallery is closed between Christmas and New Year. New Christmas Stocks New Christmas stock of Pendleton blankets has arrived so now is […]

Friday 2nd December 6pm – 8pm Kick start the festive season with the traders of Coldharbour Road next Friday 2nd December. Join us for an evening of community spirit, Christmas shopping and festive fun. This year Rainmaker Gallery and neighbours welcome you with seasonal treats, warming drinks and lots of gorgeous things to see and buy. To round the evening […]

Yesterday was an exciting day for Rainmaker Gallery, not only were we mentioned on national radio by writer, broadcaster and Chancellor of Manchester University Lemn Sissay but we also received confirmation of a museum acquisition by The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery who are purchasing all three works from Cara Romero‘s ‘Water Memories’ series for their permanent collection. ‘Water […]

In August we returned to Indian Country in search of yet more amazing art and beautiful unique jewellery, and also to plan future Rainmaker Gallery exhibitions for the coming years. Especially for the Zuni fetish collectors amongst you, we found some cool old style carvings by the delightfully named Jimmy Yawakia (Jimmy Falls-in-love!) and exquisitely detailed masterpieces by young […]

18th October – 30th November 2016 As Rainmaker Gallery celebrates 25 years of exhibiting Native American art in England, we look back to the work of our very first visiting artist, the late Dan Viets Lomahaftewa (1951-2005). Dan Lomahaftewa created distinctly spiritual works of art that resonate vividly across deep time. He sought to communicate […]

The time is fast approaching for my annual summer trip to the USA. Whilst I am away the gallery will be closed from August 15th – 31st, re-opening on Tuesday 1st September. The trip is a valuable opportunity to visit with artists and plan exhibitions for the year ahead. I will also be seeking out new […]

8th June – 6th August 2016 Exhibition Opening 8th June, 6-8pm Artist’s talk 8th June, 3-4pm APSÁALOOKE presents three series of oil paintings celebrating the cultural heritage and living traditions of the Apsáalooke – people of the Crow Indian Nation of Montana. The Vanishing series, portrays culturally significant figures painted in loose impressionistic strokes on […]

15th March – 28 May, 2016 Artist’s Talk with Cara Romero, Thursday April 21st, 3pm-4pm Artists’ reception with Cara Romero and Diego Romero, Thursday April 21st, 6pm -8pm STILL showcases the recent work of fine art photographers Cara Romero, Will Wilson, Kali Spitzer, Robert Mesa and Zoe Urness . Their compelling photographic images of water, dance […]

This year 2016 we celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of the launch of Rainmaker. It all began with a desire to share the rich diversity of Native American cultures and extend public awareness far beyond the ubiquitous narrow stereotype. Thanks to the endless talent emerging from Indian Country during the last 25 years we have been able to exhibit […]

5th October – 28th November 2015 This exhibition of Native American Portraiture brings together work by eight contemporary Native American Indian artists from eleven tribal nations: Shonto Begay (Diné) Nocona Burgess (Comanche) 
Merle Locke (Lakota) Linda Lomahaftewa (Hopi & Choctaw) Chris Pappan (Osage, Kaw & Cheyenne River Sioux) Cara Romero (Chemehuevi) 
Zoe Marieh Urness (Tlingit & Cherokee) […]

Hopi Kachina dolls are carved, painted and adorned wooden representations of Hopi deities or Kachinas. The features of each doll are created to represent specific Kachinas. The dolls are made by uncles as gifts to their young nieces to teach them about the culture and religion of their tribe. Kachina dolls are hung high on […]

16th July – 30th September 2015  In this vivid and thoughtful solo exhibition Nocona Burgess presents strikingly modern depictions of Indigenous men and women from the tribal Nations of the Southern Plains. These paintings mix careful research, firsthand knowledge and raw passion. By combining brightly coloured shapes with crisply outlined facial features and traditional dress, Burgess explores […]

5th MARCH – 30th MAY 2015 Six contemporary American Indian fine art photographers shed new light on both the uses of photography and the identities of Indigenous Americans in this ground-breaking exhibition. ‘CAPTURED’ showcases the work of fine art photographers Cara Romero, Will Wilson, Zoe Urness, Sarah Sense, Tailinh Agoyo and Debra Yepa-Pappan, who surprise and delight with […]

On December 4th we held a special pre-Christmas open evening featuring a spectacular live body painting event by local make-up and body artist Claudia Lucia Spoto. Claudia painstakingly painted the torso of Nick White against the glorious backdrop of one of our magnificent Pendleton blankets. Over the course of three hours motionless model Nick gradually […]

Thursday December 4th is the annual  Christmas Open Evening of the Coldharbour Road Artisan Free Traders. Rainmaker Gallery along with most of our lovely neighbours will be open until 8pm for Christmas shopping and festive fun. You can find out about all the special things on offer by following our local twitter feed @coldharbourroad. Live Pendleton Body Painting […]

One of the things we specialise in here at RAINMAKER is an artform known as Zuni Fetish carvings. The Zuni People have used fetishes for over a thousand years. These ritual objects are traditionally believed to assist in healing, hunting, fertility and protection. Today many Zunis make their living carving fetishes that are also exquisite […]

The Zuni reservation has a population of more than 11,000 people. It covers over 600 square miles of  New Mexico desert and is the largest of the nineteen Indian Pueblos in the state. Zuni is considered to be one of the most traditional Pueblos with a unique language, culture and history that has resulted in part from […]

Summer at RAINMAKER has been so much fun this year. The exhibition launch was a joy. Visiting artists Chris Pappan and Debra Yepa-Pappan spoke eloquently and charmed us all. They fell in love with Bristol, Bath and London and had a wonderful time. Thank you to all those involved in the exhibition, especially Chris and […]

Our summer exhibitions are always the highlight of the year here at RAINMAKER and the next one is fast approaching. This year’s show FIRST PEOPLE, SECOND CITY opens on Tuesday 17th June. To launch the exhibition we have an exciting day of special events that give you a rare opportunity to gain greater insights into Native American cultures past and present, to meet […]

17th JUNE – 9th AUGUST 2014 Chris Pappan and Debra Yepa-Pappan An exhibition featuring the 21st century ledger art of Chris Pappan and Debra Yepa-Pappan, exploring the cultural identities of indigenous peoples in the Chicago area, and the idea of sacred space both past and present. FIRST PEOPLE, SECOND CITY will be launched with a […]

Wednesday 9th April, 1.00- 2.00pm Royal West of England Academy, Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PX Ticket Cost £10. In this lecture Dr. Max Carocci (British Museum’s Anthropology Library and Research Centre) addresses the cultural significance of jewels and precious stones among the native peoples of the North American Southwest. Dating back many thousands of […]

13th JUNE – 10th AUGUST 2013 WEAVING WATER is a migrating exhibition in which Native American artist Sarah Sense navigates a new visual language through photography and weaving. The following exhibition launch events are a collaboration between the artist, Rainmaker Gallery and Dr. Max Carocci, curator at the British Museum. 11am – 12 noon: FILM […]

30th OCTOBER – 30th NOVEMBER 2012 In this exhibition of silk screen prints Northwest Coast artist Preston Singletary draws on his Tlingit tribal heritage to explore themes of transformation, nature and myth. Preston Singletary is internationally recognised for his bold depictions of birds, animals and humans in the distinctive style of the Pacific North West. […]

JUNE 13th – JULY 25th 2012 TONY ABEYTA, MARCUS AMERMAN, SHONTO BEGAY, DAVID BRADLEY, KELLY CHURCH, MELISSA CODY, EDGAR HEAP OF BIRDS, FRANK BUFFALO HYDE, LINDA LOMAHAFTEWA, AMERICA MEREDITH, CHRIS PAPPAN, DEBRA YEPA-PAPPAN, CARA ROMERO, DIEGO ROMERO, MATEO ROMERO, SARAH SENSE, RYAN SINGER, MICAH ‘WERE WULF’ WESLEY. ‘MESSENGERS 2012’ brings together the work of eighteen […]