BINARY VISIONS
American artist Linda Infante Lyons’s poignant icon portraits acknowledge her dual Alutiiq Alaska Native/Russian-Estonian identity. She communicates this elegantly by seamlessly commingling Russian Orthodox iconography with elements of Alutiiq culture. Inspired by family members and friends, and incorporating animals her ancestors hold sacred, Linda’s portraits are a form of visual de-colonization from Russian and American domination. Although she values both sides of her heritage, her work is part of an ongoing movement to revive, restore, and validate indigenous culture.
Click on the square thumbnails to view larger, full-sized images and to read Linda’s fascinating comments about Alaska Native culture.
St. Katherine of Karluk
Oil on panel, 30” x 30”, Permanent Collection, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, Alaska
The Isuwiq Madonna
Oil on canvas, 24” x 24”, Permanent Collection, Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, Ohio
