With Gratitude and Reflection

“Art is about the way people see the world. When you understand that, you begin to understand each other.”
                                                                                                                                       — Ralph T. “Ted” Coe

The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts was created as a place of curiosity, connection, and shared learning. While it was the Coe Collection that first brought us together, it was the relationships, conversations, and spirit of exploration that shaped our purpose. As we close this chapter, I wish to honor every individual who visited, participated in our programs, partnered with us, or supported our work. I am deeply grateful to our devoted staff, whose commitment and care made all of our work possible, and to the Coe Center Board for its steady guidance throughout this journey.

From the beginning, the Coe Center was an experiment grounded in the belief that art fosters understanding. Our work focused on raising awareness of Indigenous arts, encouraging thoughtful dialogue, and creating opportunities for education and exchange. Over the years, this experiment proved to be both meaningful and impactful, culminating in the Rehoming Program and its accompanying grants. Together with communities, artists, museums, and cultural partners, we sought to influence and support positive change. I believe we succeeded.

Although the Coe Center is now closed, the spirit of this work continues in the relationships built, the knowledge shared, and the many homes to which the artworks have returned. I invite you to explore this site, revisit past exhibitions and projects, and carry forward the sense of curiosity, respect, and openness that guided everything we did.

With sincere gratitude,
Rachel de W. Wixom

President, Executive Director
Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts

Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future

In December 2025, the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts will gift its campus to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) as part of our visionary Rehoming Program. This historic transfer ensures the long-term stewardship of the Coe Center’s resources while empowering IAIA to expand its leadership in Indigenous arts, education, and cultural exchange.

The Coe Center’s Rehoming Program is the heart of our final chapter—a bold and thoughtful initiative to return Indigenous artworks to their original communities or to institutions that prioritize cultural context, accessibility, and continued care.

As we approach closure in 2025, this program honors our legacy by ensuring these meaningful works are not only preserved, but reconnected with the people, places, and stories they come from. Rehoming is about more than transfer—it’s about stewardship rooted in respect, reciprocity, and responsibility.

Follow along as we document this unprecedented process and share the relationships, stories, and moments that are shaping the future of ethical collecting.

“This gift is a living testament to the Coe Center’s vision, and we look forward to shaping it into a vibrant space for creativity, learning, and connection for generations to come.”
— Felipe J. Estudillo Colón (Laguna Pueblo), IAIA Provost and Chair of the Native American Art History program

Learn More About the Rehoming Program
Read the Official Press Release

Land Acknowledgement

The Tewa People, and the neighboring communities of Tiwa, Towa, Keres, Jicarilla Apache and Mescalero Apache, and Diné, have been committed to a reciprocal relationship with this land for generations. The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, located in this place, recognizes this history and celebrates O’Ga P’Ogeh Owingeh (White Shell Water Place) past, present, and future.

Learn more about our Mission

Explore our Programs, Exhibitions, and Collaborations

Collections Spotlight

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and through the reopening afterward, the Coe Center partnered with First American Art Magazine to present an interactive Zoom series in which Native artists discussed artworks in the Coe Collections. Collections Spotlight brought deep dives into objects from the Coe collection to the public from the artist’s perspective. These events were free and open to the public.

Collections Spotlight

Collections Spotlight

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and through the reopening afterward, the Coe Center partnered with First American Art Magazine to present an interactive Zoom series in which Native artists discussed artworks in the Coe Collections. Collections Spotlight brought deep dives into objects from the Coe collection to the public from the artist’s perspective. These events were free and open to the public.

Collections Spotlight

Collaborations

Coe Collaborations bring together artists, scholars, and community members for dynamic events, guest talks, and hands-on workshops that spark dialogue and discovery. Through these programs, we celebrate diverse perspectives, explore global Indigenous art, and foster meaningful connections between people and the collection. Whether through an artist-led workshop, a conversation with a guest speaker, or an interactive event, Coe Collaborations invite you to engage, learn, and create together.

Coe Collaborations

Hands-On Curatorial Program

The Coe Center Hands-On Curatorial Program provides high school students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with the Coe Collection—over 2,500 Indigenous artworks spanning history and the globe. Through museum visits, interactions with artists and art professionals, and weekly sessions, our young curators develop both individual and collaborative skills, gaining the expertise to create their own exhibition from inception to completion. The acquired skills are not just for the moment but are lifelong.

Hands-On Curatorial Program

Exhibitions

Exhibitions at the Coe Center offer an ever-changing exploration of global Indigenous art, both in person and online. Designed to inspire curiosity and conversation, our exhibitions highlight diverse perspectives, historical narratives, and contemporary creativity. Whether visiting our gallery to experience works up close or exploring a virtual exhibition from anywhere in the world, each show provides a unique window into the stories, cultures, and artistic expressions within the Coe Collection.

Exhibitions

Native American Collections Digital Resource Pilot Project Final Report

The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts has completed the Native American Collections Digital Resource Pilot Project, a groundbreaking initiative graciously funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. This project focused on updating and improving the Coe’s Collection Management System to ensure the accurate, culturally appropriate documentation of Native American artworks. Through deep collaboration with Indigenous artists and community members, the Coe Center reviewed over 350 objects, correcting records, enhancing cultural narratives, and strengthening relationships with home communities.

This initiative aligns with the Coe Center’s broader Restructuring Initiative, including the planned rehoming of its 2,500-object collection to institutions and communities committed to cultural engagement through its Rehoming Program. While the Coe Center is winding down operations, its commitment to ethical stewardship and Indigenous collaboration will continue through these partnerships, ensuring that Native art remains accessible and accurately represented.

Read the Final Report

Rehoming Program

The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts has completed the Native American Collections Digital Resource Pilot Project, a groundbreaking initiative graciously funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. This project focused on updating and improving the Coe’s Collection Management System to ensure the accurate, culturally appropriate documentation of Native American artworks. Through deep collaboration with Indigenous artists and community members, the Coe Center reviewed over 350 objects, correcting records, enhancing cultural narratives, and strengthening relationships with home communities.

This initiative aligns with the Coe Center’s broader Restructuring Initiative, including the planned rehoming of its 2,500-object collection to institutions and communities committed to cultural engagement through its Rehoming Program. While the Coe Center is winding down operations, its commitment to ethical stewardship and Indigenous collaboration will continue through these partnerships, ensuring that Native art remains accessible and accurately represented.

Learn More