Artist, Activist, Musician, Keynote Speaker
Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) is a nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist, activist, disruptor, and front-man of punk band Dead Pioneers. Deal uses his Native identity as a basis for work that challenges stereotypes, pushing for accurate representation and honest examination of the history of the United States as it relates to this country’s First Peoples.
His work launches pointed critiques of American colonialism, society, politics, popular culture and history. Through paintings, murals, performance work, filmmaking, spoken word, and more, Deal invites the viewer to confront these issues in both the present and the past tense.
It is in these “disruptions” of stereotypes and ahistorical representations that Deal situates his work, asking audiences to re-evaluate traditional ideas and assumptions about bedrock concepts of American culture from a new perspective. His goal is to catalyze reflection and understanding of complex issues surrounding Indigenous identity, trauma, and resilience.
Intertwining his personal and collective histories, Deal not only amplifies marginalized voices but also inspires a new generation of artists and activists to use their platforms for social change. Ultimately, his activism transcends art and becomes a vital expression of survival and empowerment, urging us all to participate in the critical conversations that shape our shared humanity.
Gregg Deal is well known for incorporating humor into his work, such as when he dressed in fake Native American regalia to pose with tourists at the National Mall in D.C.; and in his music, with songs such as “My Spirit Animal Ate Your Spirit Animal” and “Bad Indian”. “There are many reasons why Indigenous people have endured,” he says, “and one of those is humor.”
Deal is a frequent speaker at colleges, universities, and conferences, including presenting two TEDx talks. He has also exhibited his work at notable institutions, nationally, and internationally, including the Denver Art Museum, RedLine Gallery, and the Smithsonian Institution. Deal currently lives with his wife and five children along the Front Range of Colorado.