St. Sebastian 2017

Kent Monkman’s 2017 painting, “St. Sebastian,” is a satirical and provocative reimagining of the traditional Christian subject. The painting depicts a scene of Indigenous people in a forest, but with a twist: the central figure, St. Sebastian, is portrayed as a nude Indigenous man, tied to a tree, surrounded by figures who represent both Indigenous and colonial cultures. Monkman's work challenges Western art history and its portrayal of Indigenous peoples, inviting viewers to question colonial narratives and their impact on Indigenous identity.