Contemporary Coast Salish art

King County Arts Commission, 1992.
King County Arts Commission, 1992.
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Today, Coast Salish artists continue to use traditional tools and techniques, but are also using computer graphics, laser cutters, power tools, silk screen and giclée prints, glass hot shops, foundries and more to bring both traditional and innovative forms to the 21st century.
 

Coast Salish artists have been commissioned to produce large scale public art installations that are viewable throughout the region. These include house posts and welcome figures, story poles and cast bronze sculptures. For additional examples, explore the interactive map of Coast Salish Art.

Art Inspired by Traditional Forms
 

Coast Salish spindle whorls housed in museum collections were studied by Susan Point, Stan Greene, Charles Elliott and other Coast Salish artists who sought to revitalize Coast Salish art in the late 20th century, a time when most Northwest Coast artists were working in more northern styles. The circular form of the whorl has continued to inspire many 21st century Coast Salish print makers.

A 19th century spindle whorl
DeMenil private collection
DeMenil private collection

Spindle Whorl 

19th century Coast Salish spindle whorl, DeMenil private collection.

A silk screen print of a human and thunderbirds in coast salish style
Burke Museum cat. no. 1998-90/317
Burke Museum cat. no. 1998-90/317

Greene Print

Human with Thunderbirds, Stan Greene, Coast Salish/Semiahmoo, silk screen print, 1979, Margaret Blackman and Edwin S. Hall, Jr. collection, Burke Museum cat. no. 1998-90/317.

A 19th century spindle whorl
Canadian Museum of Civilization, cat. no. VIIG8.
Canadian Museum of Civilization, cat. no. VIIG8.

Spindle Whorl 

19th century Coast Salish spindle whorl, Canadian Museum of Civilization, cat. no. VIIG8.

A silk screen of twin thunderbirds in the Coast Salish art style
Burke Museum cat. no. 1992-48/2
Burke Museum cat. no. 1992-48/2

Point Print 

Twin Thunderbirds, Susan Point, Musqueam, silk screen print, 1981, Simon Ottenberg collection, Burke Museum cat. no. 1992-48/2.

A 19th century spindle whorl
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, cat. no. 221179-E.
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, cat. no. 221179-E.

Spindle Whorl 

19th century spindle whorl, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, cat. no. 221179-E.

A yellow silk screen print depicting an animal in the Coast Salish art style
Simon Ottenberg collection, Burke Museum #1999-151/27.
Simon Ottenberg collection, Burke Museum #1999-151/27.

Wells Print 

Leslie Wells (Coast Salish), Untitled, 1991, silk screen print, Simon Ottenberg collection, Burke Museum #1999-151/27.

Susan Point has also experimented with several designs inspired by a wooden comb in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

A comb with a creature depicted in a way that exaggerates their most identifiable features, with large heads, eyes, and snouts or beaks.
Courtesy of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 95-20-10/48393.
Courtesy of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 95-20-10/48393.

Peabody Comb

A four-legged animal is shown with a clear profile, its tail curled up over the head and negative crescents and trigons defining the ribs. Courtesy of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 95-20-10/48393.

A silkscreen print of a squirrel depicted in the Coast Salish style
Simon Ottenberg Collection, Burke Museum cat. no. 1997-123/10.
Simon Ottenberg Collection, Burke Museum cat. no. 1997-123/10.

Point Print "Squirrel"

“Squirrel,” Susan Point, Musqueam, silkscreen print, 1989, Simon Ottenberg Collection, Burke Museum cat. no. 1997-123/10.

Suquamish elder Ed Carriere was inspired to weave his “Mountain, Lightning and Icicle” basket after studying a Suquamish basket in the Burke Museum collection in 1992.

A coiled basket with diamond patterns
Burke Museum cat. no. 2.5E528.
Burke Museum cat. no. 2.5E528.

Suquamish Basket

Suquamish coiled basket, Burke Museum cat. no. 2.5E528.

A woven basket depicting a Mountain, Lightning and Icicle basket in the Coast Salish style
Burke Museum cat. no. 2007-5/1.
Burke Museum cat. no. 2007-5/1.

Ed Carriere Basket

Suquamish elder Ed Carriere was inspired to weave his Mountain, Lightning and Icicle basket after studying a Suquamish basket in the Burke Museum collection in 1992. Burke Museum cat. no. 2007-5/1.

close up of a comb

See More Coast Salish Art

Continue exploring the history of art in this region, what makes Coast Salish art distinctive among the many regional Northwest Coast styles, and the vitality of contemporary Coast Salish art.

Learn More

woven hat

Additional Coast Salish Art Resources

Search additional resources related to the First Peoples who speak the Coast Salish language.

Learn More

Photo: Dennis Wise/University of Washington
Photo: Dennis Wise/University of Washington