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"Just What I Said" painting by Heidi K. Brandow. Front view
  • "Just What I Said" painting by Heidi K. Brandow. Front view
  • "Just What I Said" painting by Heidi K. Brandow. Front view
"Just What I Said" by Heidi K. Brandow

"Just What I Said" by Heidi K. Brandow

$950

Wood, plaster, paper collage, acrylic paint, resin
10" x 10"

Artwork Description:
A bold declaration cloaked in playful form, Just What I Said by Heidi K. Brandow is an unapologetic fusion of Indigenous storytelling, contemporary Pop Art, and personal sovereignty. Known for her iconic visual language of whimsical creatures and expressive symbols, Brandow draws from her Diné (Navajo) and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) heritage to create work that is both subversive and joyful.

Made by A Native Artist

Original Artwork

Ships From Santa Fe, NM

About The Artwork

In this piece, a bright blue creature with cartoonish features stands with arms outstretched in front of a stark black-and-white patterned background. With a toothy smirk and stitched-shut eyes, the figure evokes both childhood innocence and assertive individuality speaking volumes even with its mouth seemingly closed. The layered title Just What I Said becomes both a personal affirmation and a cultural statement, challenging expectations placed on Indigenous artists while celebrating self-expression without translation or apology.

Executed in mixed media with thick textures, vibrant acrylics, and graffiti-style detailing, this painting is a standout for collectors seeking work that blurs the line between high art and street culture, activism and humor.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

HEIDI K. BRANDOW

Heidi K. Brandow (Diné & Kānaka Maoli) is a versatile artist whose work prioritizes the inclusion of Indigenous people and perspectives in creating ethical and sustainable forms of creative engagement and artistic expression.

Alongside co-founding the Harvard Indigenous Design Collective, which champions design by and for Indigenous communities as an integral component of design fields' history, theory, and practice, Heidi currently serves as a Master Artist Mentor at the Institute of American Indian Arts' Master of Fine Arts - Studio Arts Program. In previous roles, she was an Artist Liaison and Guest Curator at the Coe Center for Art. She served as a Tribal Liaison at Local Contexts, assisting Indigenous communities in reclaiming authority of their material culture and archives. Currently, Heidi is the Associate Director of Communications at First Peoples Fund, where she continues to uplift and promote the work and stories of Indigenous artists and culture bearers to a national audience.

Brandow completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts, studied industrial design at Istanbul Technical University, and received a Master of Design Studies from Harvard University.
View More Artwork by Heidi K. Brandow

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