The Heard Museum’s Newest Exhibition Honors the Legacy of Delores Browne Abelson, Founder of October Art Ltd.
By: Roshii Montaño (Diné), Curator
About
Roshii Montano is a Curator at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, she was an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the Heard Museum and also held positions at Stanford University, LACMA, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, and more. Montaño received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Master of Arts from Arizona State University.
The Heard Museum presents October Art: The Collection of Delores Browne Abelson in honor of ballerina, teacher, and gallerist Delores Browne Abelson (1935-2023) and her remarkable collection of Native American art. The exhibition features approximately 35 works by artists including Gwen Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo), Hazel Koyiyumptewa (Hopi), Harry Fonseca (Nisenan Maidu), Stella Charvarria (Santa Clara Pueblo) and Dan Namingha (Hopi), among others. In addition to the artwork, a modest selection of ephemera drawn from Browne’s archive of letters, photographs, and pamphlets will be on view.
The exhibition title pays tribute to October Art Ltd., the New York gallery Browne founded in 1984. Located alongside the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris on Park Avenue, the gallery was devoted to championing Native American artists from the Southwest, including Namingha, Orville Tsinnie (Diné), Fonseca, and Verma Nequatewa (Hopi). Although the gallery closed after 10 years, Browne continued to advocate for Native artists throughout her life.
Browne’s love of ballet began at an early age. In 1949, she entered formal training at the Judimar School of Dance in Philadelphia. As writer and dancer Joselli Deans notes, “Black ballet dancers rarely performed with white companies in the 1950s.” Defying these barriers, Browne joined the New York Negro Ballet in the late 1950s, performing principal roles and touring internationally. by the late 1960s, she has transitioned to teaching and pursued initiatives that supported Black dancers. Her advocacy for Black artistry naturally extended to championing Native American arts.
October Art: The Delores Browne Abelson Collection honors Browne’s legacy by revisiting the history of October Art Ltd. while celebrating the deep relationship she built with artists, such as her friendship with Fonseca. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on her enduring legacy and recognizes her solidarity with Native arts and artists.
“If I could describe Delores in one word, it would be generous,” says Alaiyo Bradshaw, former manager of October Art Ltd. and Browne’s close friend.
Image credits (in order of appearance):
Portrait of Delores Browne Abelson as a ballerina.
Archival image of Delores Browne Abelson in October Art Ltd., New York.
October Art Ltd. logo (1984-94).
Archival image of the jewelry case at October Art Ltd., New York.
Archival image of Delores Browne Abelson in a ballerina pose.
Harry Fonseca (Nisenan Maidu/Native Hawaiian/Portuguese, 1946-2006), Untitled (Ballet dancers in practice), 1984, lithograph, 22 x 29 inches. Gift of Delores Browne Abelson Trust. Heard Museum Collection.
Archival image of Delores Browne Abelson (left) and Harry Fonseca (Nisenan Maidu/Portuguese/Native Hawaiian).
