For two days in June, Griffith Park won’t just be home to joggers, picnickers, and the occasional coyote sighting—it’ll become a vibrant hub for some of the country’s most innovative Native American artists. The Autry Museum’s 34th Annual American Indian Arts Festival lands June 7–8, and it’s not your average art fair.
This year’s theme could easily be “ancient future.” Yes, there will be stunning jewelry, beadwork, and basketry. But there will also be an Indigenous-themed Star Wars droid. A linoleum print workshop led by a Tongva artist. Live hoop dancing, powwow performances, spoken word, and kid-friendly storytelling zones. And the best part? It all happens under one ticket price, which includes full museum admission.
Not Just for Browsing
Forget politely strolling past display tables—this festival is built for interaction. Artist River Tikwi Garza (Tongva) is inviting attendees to carve and print their own block designs inspired by ancestral motifs. In the galleries, poet and filmmaker Pamela J. Peters (Diné) is curating spoken word performances that challenge and reframe Native representation. And in the central plaza, traditional hoop dancers will share the spotlight with contemporary powwow artists and the Wild Horse Singers and Dancers.
Whether you’re new to Native art or already deep in the scene, the lineup spans traditional craft to avant-garde: pottery, sculpture, basketry, and beadwork alongside art that embraces time travel, space beings, and resistance through sci-fi.
Did Someone Say Hopi R2?
Yes. Yes, they did. One of the event’s more delightfully unexpected offerings is HOPI R2—a collaborative project by Hopi artist Duane Koyawena and engineer Joe Mastroianni that reimagines the beloved droid through a Native lens. (Because why shouldn’t R2-D2 get a cultural upgrade?)
It’s a playful but potent example of how Indigenous artists are folding technology, pop culture, and tribal identity into new forms of storytelling—and it makes a strong case for bringing your Star Wars-obsessed kid along.
Culture for the Whole Crew
The “Future Generations Zone” offers hands-on activities and family-oriented storytelling designed to keep younger kids engaged while still being meaningful. If you’re looking for an art event that respects short attention spans while still planting seeds of cultural awareness, this is a solid weekend pick.
The Essentials
What: 34th Annual American Indian Arts Festival
Where: The Autry Museum of the American West, Griffith Park
When: June 7–8, 2025
Why Go: To celebrate Native artists past and future, and maybe meet a Star Wars droid reimagined with Hopi flair
Tickets + Schedule: theautry.org/AIAF
Come for the beadwork, stay for the linocut prints and intergalactic droids. And if you’re lucky, leave with a deeper sense of just how vibrant—and vital—California’s Indigenous communities continue to be.
MomsLA is your source for Things to do with Kids in Los Angeles
Disclaimer: MomsLA has made every effort to confirm the information in this article; however, things can often change. Therefore, MomsLA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information published here. MomsLA strongly urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, and admission, with the third party hosting the event. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. MomsLA is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while attending any third-party event posted on our website. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Some events have paid to be listed on MomsLA.
