Authentically Cherokee is a collective of Cherokee artists located on and around the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina who work to preserve Cherokee culture in a contemporary way.
By honoring indigenous tradition through our own modern artistic perspectives, Authentically Cherokee artists serve as important culture carriers in the community. The result of this unique vision is an embrace of the past with an eye toward the future, and an opportunity to bring authentic Native American culture to new generations to be honored and appreciated.
On the surface, the terms ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ would seem to be opposites, pitting the old against the new. Our artists show how it is possible to straddle the line, offering a unique modern vision while honoring the culture and traditions of our ancestors. Authentically Cherokee artists apply traditional designs and cultural images to modern substrates and materials, melding centuries-old meaning with modern-day relevance.
In 2013, a group of Cherokee artists convened to discuss ways to promote their art, and Authentically Cherokee was born. With the help of The Sequoyah Fund, a Cherokee-based Native Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), AuthenticallyCherokee.com became the primary sales channel for artists who would otherwise have to build and maintain their own websites, pulling them away from doing what they do best.
Through the Authentically Cherokee program, artists can share their art through cohesive, branded social media platforms. The program provides continuing education opportunities for artists, as well as other outlets for sales, including live and virtual art markets, fashion shows, merchandising opportunities, and bulk sales to Fortune 500 corporations.
For more information or to shop Authentically Cherokee products, visit https://www.authenticallycherokee.com/.
