Tonya Holy Elk Named 2026 Lloyd Oxendine Artist in Residence

The Museum of the Southeast American Indian (MSAI) at UNC Pembroke has named Tonya Holy Elk, ’18, as the 2026 Lloyd Oxendine Artist in Residence. The weeklong residency celebrates contemporary Southeastern American Indian art while honoring the legacy of Lloyd Oxendine, a trailblazer who devoted his life to elevating Native artists.

The Artist-in-Residence program supports both emerging and established Indigenous artists and strengthens the museum’s role as a cultural hub in the southeast. During her residency (March 16-21), Holy Elk will hold open studio hours, co-curate an exhibit, lead public programs and participate in conversations about Southeastern American Indian art, culture, history and identity.

“Tonya’s vibrant and meaningful poems give voice to the Native experience as well as her own individual identity,” said Nancy Strickland Chavis, museum director and curator. “She uses words the way a sculptor uses clay — creating powerful, allegorical poetry. We are honored to host her and look forward to a week of engagement with her incredible talent.”

Born in Pembroke, N.C., in 1942, Oxendine dedicated his career to expanding recognition of Native American art within the broader art world. After studying at UNC Wilmington and earning degrees from Columbia University, he became a curator, scholar and gallery owner.

In 1972, Oxendine opened one of the first SoHo galleries devoted exclusively to contemporary American Indian art, giving prominent Native artists early exposure in New York. Over his lifetime, he curated more than 40 exhibitions and championed Native artists nationally and internationally. His legacy continues through programs like this residency.

Holy Elk is an Indigenous author, poet, scholar and storyteller from North Carolina. She is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, with family ties to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Her work reflects the strength of Native communities and the deep connection between land, memory and spirit.

Through poetry, workshops and public readings, Holy Elk preserves cultural memory while empowering others to find and use their voices. Her poetic memoir, Roots & Blooms, and her upcoming poetry collection, Soul Food, explore themes of ancestry, resilience and renewal within the contemporary Indigenous experience.

She regularly leads creative writing workshops and community-centered programs at cultural centers, schools and arts festivals, bridging tradition with modern audiences.

Residency Events

Wednesday, March 18
6:30–8:30 p.m. — Reception and Poetry Reading featuring selections from Roots & Blooms
Location: Museum of the Southeast American Indian

Saturday, March 21
UNCP Powwow Special Honoring

The museum invites the public to celebrate Holy Elk’s residency and the continued vision of Oxendine — one that centers Native voices, promotes artistic excellence and sustains cultural conversations across generations.

For more information about the Lloyd Oxendine Artist-in-Residence program, contact the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at 910.521.6282.