Shelley Niro, a member of the Turtle Clan of the Kanyen’keha:ka (Mohawk) Nation, is currently exhibiting a solo show at Hales Gallery in Manhattan through October 31. The exhibition, titled “In Her Lifetime,” showcases a range of her work including photography, painting, beadwork, and film, with a central focus on Native women.

One of the notable pieces in the show is a triptych titled “The Iroquois Is a Highly Developed Matriarchal Society” (1991/2026), which features three hand-colored photographs of Niro’s mother seated beneath a salon-style hair dryer. These images are set against a black mat board, which also contains a hand-drilled abstract design. The work’s title, combining an ethnographic statement with lively, intimate portraiture, reflects Niro’s characteristic approach of pairing conceptual text with serialized photography and infusing her art with a dry sense of humor.

The exhibition’s namesake piece, created in 1992, consists of six photographs of Niro’s sister, who serves as an archetype for Native women. Accompanied by a narrative text, the sequence explores themes of existential transition, tracing a journey from the openness and possibility of childhood to the routine challenges of adulthood. Despite the somewhat somber subject matter, Niro balances the work with a subtle playfulness that lends a nuanced perspective on difficult experiences.

Throughout her career, Niro has focused on illuminating the realities faced by Native women, blending moments of pain with elements of absurdity and humor. This exhibition offers a comprehensive look at that ongoing exploration, emphasizing her ability to capture both cultural identity and personal narrative in her art.