Amber-Dawn Bear Robe is a fashion curator, Native art historian, and educator whose work centers Indigenous artists as the original couturiers of America. Her practice positions fashion and material culture as vital systems of Indigenous knowledge and cultural continuity. Through research and curatorial work, she examines the embodied histories of Native fashion, challenging conventional narratives within art and fashion history while advancing more inclusive frameworks of representation.

Bear Robe teaches Indigenous Fashion History at Parsons School of Design, The New School (Art and Design History and Theory, NYC). Her pedagogy is grounded in critical theory, community-based approaches, and contemporary Indigenous practice, creating space for Indigenous voices, visibility, and self-determination within academic and cultural institutions.

Teaching Statement

As an educator, curator, and advocate for contemporary Indigenous art and fashion, my teaching philosophy is grounded in a commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice. My approach weaves together lived experiences, academic expertise, and community engagement to create dynamic learning environments where students are encouraged to explore, question, and redefine the narratives of art and fashion history.

Artistic and Research Practice

My work centers on amplifying Indigenous voices through fashion shows, exhibitions, and scholarly research. I have spent over a decade producing high-profile fashion events, curating exhibitions, and developing innovative courses that challenge Eurocentric frameworks. My research draws from Indigenizing methodologies and Indigenous knowledge systems, emphasizing the interconnectedness of art, material culture, and storytelling.

Links

Department of Art and Design History and Theory

CANVAS (for students)