WELCOME!
Curator, Scholar, and Educator
Dr. Meranda Roberts (Yerington Paiute Tribe and Chicana) is a curator, scholar, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of Indigenous history, museum studies, and visual culture. Her practice is guided by Indigenous methodologies and anti-colonial pedagogy, challenging colonial narratives to reconnect collections with descendant communities. This approach is deeply shaped by her obligations to her elders, family, and community, as well as her responsibilities as a guest on the homelands of the Acjachemen (Juaneño) and Tongva (Gabrielino) peoples. Holding a Ph.D. in History and an M.A. in Public History from the University of California, Riverside, she approaches curating as a practice of humility, repair, and respect. Her impactful work has gained international recognition, most notably with her 2025 exhibition, Eternal Testament, being named by Hyperallergic as one of the best art events in the world. Dr. Roberts also serves as a co-editor and contributor to the groundbreaking volume Surviving the Long Wars: Creative Rebellion at the Ends of Empire (Bridge Books, 2024), which explores the transformative power of art in the face of US militarism and settler-colonial violence.
Current Featured Project:
Constellations of Place Curated as part of Fort Lewis College’s 250/150 initiative and the Colorado 150 Southwest “Power of Place” effort.
Rather than marking these anniversaries as simple celebrations, Constellations of Place invites reflection on how history and belonging are contested. The exhibition pairs the Center of Southwest Studies’ permanent collections with contemporary Indigenous, Native American, and Latinx artwork. It understands "place" not as a single story, but as a constellation of relationships, memories, and responsibilities.
Notable Curatorial Projects:
Dr. Roberts has curated groundbreaking exhibitions across the country that center sovereignty and "survivance," challenging institutional norms through Indigenous methodologies:
Eternal Testament: Resistance & Refusal (The Church, Sag Harbor, 2025) – Co-curated with Shinnecock artist Jeremy Dennis, this exhibition used fine art to highlight sovereignty and survivance in the Hamptons. It was notably recognized by Hyperallergic as one of the best art events globally in 2025.
Continuity: Cahuilla Basket Weavers and Their Legacies (Benton Museum of Art, 2024) – A guest-curated initiative that reunited ancestral Cahuilla baskets with descendant families, foregrounding Indigenous protocols in curatorial practice.
NAGPRA Assessment & Consultation (University of Akron, 2024) – Worked with the Institute for Human Science and Culture to assess donated collections and guide the university’s legal and ethical responsibilities under NAGPRA protocols.
Still We Smile: Humor as Correction and Joy (Idyllwild Arts, 2023) – Curated for the Native American Invitational, this exhibition explored Indigenous humor as a vital tool for healing, resistance, and joy.
Native Truths: Our Stories. Our Voices. (Field Museum of Natural History, 2022) – Co-developed as a permanent, groundbreaking exhibition that centers contemporary Native perspectives and lived experiences.
Education & Academic Appointments
Dr. Roberts brings academic rigor and an ethic of integrity to every role she inhabits.
Ph.D. in History | University of California, Riverside
M.A. in Public History | University of California, Riverside
B.A. in History | California State University, San Bernardino
Advisory: Scholarly Advisory Committee for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
Teaching: Formerly of the Art History Department at Pomona College and Scholar-in-Residence at Pitzer College.
Personal Land Acknowledgment:
I would like to acknowledge that as a Northern Paiute woman I live, work, eat, and sleep on the homelands of the Tongva (Gabrieleno) people. May we always honor this Nation, their sovereignty, their ways of life, and the love they have for their ancestors. We are all on Native Land.
If you would like to learn how to help your institution engage with anti-colonial practices, and to learn from Meranda’s experiences, please feel free to reach out to her in the link above!
As you navigate through this website, please consider engaging in reciprocity. Meranda currently works independently, and is very open with sharing so much of her journey freely.
If you learn from her and would like to give back, please consider donating to her Venmo @Meranda-R or paypal @MerandaRoberts