Mona Cliff

bio

Mona Cliff, (Hanook-gah-neeh/ Spottedcloud) is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre tribe (A'aninin/Nakota Nations) of Ft. Belknap, MT.

Mona is mulitsciplinary visual artist, she explores the subject of contemporary Indigenous identity and culture through her use of traditional Native crafting methods such as seed bead embroidery and fabric applique. Beadwork & sewing applique have been a primary foundation of her artist practice. Mona acquired a B.F.A in Printmaking from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA.

She has two site specific beaded pieces in the permanent collection at the Kansas City Museum. She has recently concluded a commissioned beaded piece spanning 17 ft' for the Kansas City Airport Terminal' 1% for the arts program. She has concluded several public art projects in the summer of 2023 which include 4 murals in the Kansas area, including Haskell Indian Nations University. 

Mona works as a Diversity,Equity and Inclusion field representative for the native communities of Kansas for the Kansas Creative Arts Industry Commision. 

Her upcoming Exhibits 2024 she will have a large-scale beaded piece at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C for the Women to Watch exhibition and a large beaded at the Autry Museum in L.A.

Mona is married and has 3 children ages 13, 14& 16 years old. She currently resides in Lawrence, Kansas.

artist Statement

My practice traverses traditional indigenous knowledge systems. In learning the teachings of my past I apply these teachings to my practice, I aim to explore how tradtional arts, culture, and knowledge connects me to ancestoral practices. I pose questions of how we can understand our connections to the world which surround us. Continuous cultural evolution is of particular interest to me. especially in the realm of generational knowledge. As I create art through these traditional art practices, I feel a connection to my ancestors.

Interweaving various crafts materials I want to create visual language, a language which preserves tradition and creates a discourse that has people question their own preconceptions of indigenous arts.

I work with natural materials that have been changed by human hands. processes that have ultimately rendered these natural material from their original states, which then allows us a vehicle for self expression. For example seed beads, sand which is molded by fire and reshaped then re applied to create traditional itmes. Process and application of these materials is the foundation of my work.