HomeArtArtists › Artist Spotlight on Douglas Miles
 
 
 

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 Meet fine artist, designer, activist, and the creator/founder of Apache Skateboards, Douglas Miles.

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Miles brings a 21st century voice to what it means to be a Native American artist exploring his heritage, pop culture and ideas of fine art. A veteran artist, Douglas Miles has been busy creating both fine art and street art while currently living with his wonderful family on the Apache San Carlos Reservation. His art celebrates his heritage while at the same time reflecting upon the realities of his life on the reservation.

DMilescreatingMiles favors aerosol and paint markers preferring to create on found everyday objects from the reservation, which he feels further connects him with his community, his heritage, while elevating everyday objects to fine art status. Miles creates striking hand drawn and cut stencils, which he applies throughout his work and that really highlight his skill and artistry. Given the artist’s desire to bring the reservation to the mainstream contemporary art world, Miles recently achieved this when he exhibited “Beautiful Struggle” a large mural painted on a mobile home trailer on the reservation and exhibited last year in his solo exhibition APACHE X at the monOrchid, receiving rave reviews and national coverage!

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Miles recently exhibited his artwork in an exhibition titled “Instapache: Art as Social Practice” at UNM in the Rainosek Gallery this past November. Curated by Laura Harjo who said that the exhibition showcased “edgy and fierce collection of everyday Indigenous heroisms, articulated through an Apache lens.” Showcasing some powerful and raw imagery, she went on to say “a slice of contemporary Indigenous culture highlighting people living on the edge, this collection decolonizes and extinguishes the typical mainstream notions of Indigenous imagery.”

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Miles is an activist and an inspiration to his community, empowering the youth, encouraging education, the arts, and skating. By giving them the tools they need to beat the hardships they face on the reservation and move beyond the stigmas. Through his art he has been able to bring attention and give his community a voice and hopes his artwork and activism will change the view of what it means to be a contemporary Native American artist.

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Up next for Miles is a small exhibition of his Instagram photography on display in Bokeh Gallery exploring how Miles brilliantly captures his life, artwork, and inspirations. This exhibition will be on view March 6 through March 29th with the artist reception held First Friday, March 6th from 6-10pm. For more information about Douglas Miles and Apache Skateboards visit: http://apacheskateboards.com/. *Images courtesy of Douglas Miles and gallery shots by Nicole Royse.

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