Artifacts of Agency – Ethan/Kayaani J Lauesen

Ethan/Kayaaní J Lauesen is a visual artist based in Fairbanks, Alaska. They earned their Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2019. Their body of work focuses on their Denaakk’e Koyukon Athabaskan and Lingít cultural backgrounds and how they are perceived in Alaskan communities. The prints, paintings, and drawings they produce are an intimate response to public perceptions of their Indigenous identity, encapsulating their personal narrative and experiences documenting cultural change.

Artist Statement

Artifacts of Agency is a collection of prints that I have created through my process of self reflection and growth. The work incorporates formline imagery from my Lingit cultural background, a skill that was imparted to me by my Aunt in Klawock. I reflect on the more tumultuous aspects of my personal life and how certain interpersonal relationships have affected me deeply. Heartbreak and the associated feelings of betrayal, insecurity, lack of self worth, and vindictiveness were all difficult emotions that I’ve had to process. As a result my creative process is fundamentally a therapeutic one, providing a healthy outlet to channel emotions associated with tower moments in my life. The formline imagery documents my process of realizing my own autonomy and agency, reflecting how our own decisions and intentions impact our lives.