Pharaoh 171 is the artistic moniker for Joseph ‘Sagonige Yanasi’ Pekara, a four-time Grammy Award, and three-time Sony Award winning photographer. A native of Fort Collins, Colorado, Pekara is a part of the Choctaw and Tsalagi nations. Although he is best known for his hip-hop and concert photography, Pekara is also highly active in making images of wildlife, portraiture, landscapes, and scenes of Native North American culture.

Pekara got his start with a digital SLR camera that he inherited from his uncle. His photos from Fort Collins concert venues—especially the indie hip-hop group Hieroglyphics—led to his main gigs as tour photographer for Nappy Roots and 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III). He also makes photos for the rapper Wale, Erica Banks, and others.

While his primary professional focus is concert photography, Pekara also excels at wildlife photography, which he likens to capturing live moments on stage. His work has also always included powerful images of Indigenous culture, which led to a cultural recognition award from the Smithsonian Institute and the Recording Academy (who award the Grammys) in 2022.

About Pharaoh 171 x Red Berry Woman: Photography + Fashion

Pekara has also recently taken up high-end fashion photography, working with designer Norma Baker-Flying Horse—an enrolled member of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikaria (MHA) Nation and a member of the Dakota Sioux and Assiniboine tribes, as well as an adopted member of the Crow Nation—to photograph her newest collections. Working under her Native given name, Red Berry Woman, Baker-Flying Horse’s fashion line incorporates Native American traditional styles into contemporary couture and ready-to-wear garments that honor tribal bloodlines and influence contemporary fashion.

Pharaoh 171 x Red Berry Woman: Photography + Fashion at Gregory Allicar Museum of Art combines Pekara’s photography and examples from Baker-Flying Horse’s Red Berry Woman fashion line. The exhibiting artists have also chosen works from the museum’s permanent collection that speak to their backgrounds and interests.

Artist Talks and Opening Reception

Join us for an artist talk by Pekara, joined by Baker-Flying Horse, on Thursday, February 15 at 6 p.m. in the Griffin Concert Hall. The artists will talk about their careers, artistic process, and the collaboration that won them the Cultural Recognition Award in the Visual Arts from the Smithsonian Institute in 2022.

A reception will follow in the Robert W. Hoffert Learning Center at 7 p.m. with refreshments. Free and open to all!