KC Reporter

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art will present "Raven Halfmoon: Ride or Die," a solo exhibition by artist Raven Halfmoon, from November 14, 2025, to April 19, 2026. The exhibition is organized by Jessica S. Hong, Chief Curator at the museum.

The show features five new site-responsive works created specifically for this event. These pieces engage with the cultural and historical context of Kansas City and its region. Halfmoon’s work explores cowboy mythology and reinterprets the traditional “cowboy vs. Indian” narrative by centering powerful cowgirl figures that assert Indigenous perspectives.

A highlight of the exhibition is a large-scale sculpture of a bucking horse, which marks a new direction in Halfmoon’s artistic practice. This piece responds to Cyrus Dallin’s "The Scout" (1921), a well-known monument in Kansas City’s Penn Valley Park that has been critiqued for perpetuating stereotypes about Native peoples. In contrast, Halfmoon’s horse sculpture represents resistance and sovereignty.

“When I was traveling through Kansas City, I was struck by a statue titled The Scout by Cyrus E. Dallin. It is a commanding ten-foot sculpture depicting a Native rider atop his horse, looking into the distance. I thought of my ancestors on my father's side, who are Otoe-Missouri - Tribal Nations whose homelands include Missouri, Nebraska, and, going even further back, the Great Lakes region. That rich history was part of what inspired the creation of my exhibition, Ride or Die, opening at the Kemper Museum. The exhibition reflects my experience growing up in Oklahoma, which is part of the North American Great Plains. We also have a rich Western heritage culture in addition to 38 federally recognized Tribal Nations. My show features powerful Native female riders, a bucking horse, and canine protectors—all entities who I see as Ride or Dies,” said Halfmoon.

Jessica S. Hong commented on the significance of the project: “Formidably punk, Raven Halfmoon’s site-responsive exhibition expands the Kemper Museum’s legacy as a space of artistic experimentation and innovation. Engaging local histories and narratives, Halfmoon’s new body of work fosters a site of critical convening, reminding us that defiance can be a generative, empowering tool to honor and fortify our past, present, and future.”

An opening reception for both "Ride or Die" and another exhibit titled "The Atrium Project: 10 Years, 10 Stories" will take place on Thursday, November 13 at Kemper Museum from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by an artist talk by Raven Halfmoon at Kansas City Art Institute at 7:00 p.m.

Since its founding in 1994 as Missouri's first contemporary art museum Kemper Museum has focused on presenting exhibitions featuring established and emerging artists from diverse backgrounds. The museum holds nearly 1,500 works in its collection and offers free admission supported by members’ contributions.

The museum provides various public programs including family activities and community partnerships designed to engage visitors with contemporary art.