Whether the medium is photography, painting, sculpture, beadwork, or film, the work of Brantford-based Mohawk artist Shelley Niro captivates the senses and initiates thoughtful conversations about Indigenous history and identity.
After having featured Niro’s work in the exhibitions Radical Stich and Shelley Niro: 500 Year Itch, the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH) is proud to have acquired a new work for its permanent collection in 2025. Titled The Grand Behind Glenhyrst, the oil painting was recently installed on Gallery Level 2 and has proven to be a popular draw amongst visitors.
The idea for the painting came to Niro one day when she was walking along the Grand River behind Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant in Brantford.
“Having grown up on Six Nations, we know the history of the Grand River and how the Indigenous people are involved with that history,” says Niro. “It starts off with us coming from New York State and being granted land along the river on both sides, from its source to its mouth. As time went on, that land has gradually been taken away.”
Under the 1784 Haldimand Treaty, the British promised the Six Nations confederacy 950,000 acres of land on either side of the Grand River. Over time, the treaty has been compromised by government and developers, leaving the present-day reserve at only 48,000 acres.
“My walk along the river conjured up questions in my mind about how this land belonged to us once upon a time but somehow no longer does,” explains Niro. “Through the painting, I wanted to pay tribute to the Grand River and its history.”
For Niro, spending time at the Grand River is a truly magical experience.
“Even today, parts of the river look like they’re untouched. It’s almost like travelling through time, and I find myself deeply affected by its beauty. The Grand is such a rich river, but we often take it for granted and don’t pay much attention to how special it is.”
Niro decided to create The Grand Behind Glenhyrst as three separate panels for practical reasons. Because the work is so large, she spread the image over three canvases for the ease of getting it out of her studio and transporting it.
“I love painting large because it’s a freeing, full-body activity,” Niro explains. “The act of painting allows me to separate from reality and I can leave the world outside of the studio door. At the end of the day, after a full day of painting, I realize how quickly the time has gone by.”
Melissa Bennett, the Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the AGH, hopes that visitors to the Gallery spend some time with The Grand Behind Glenhyrst and allow Niro’s work to inspire conversations about settler-indigenous relations.
“This work is a significant addition to our collection of contemporary landscapes,” says Bennett. “With her vibrant colours and bold gestural imagery, Shelley honours her ancestors’ enduring connections to the land, while reflecting on the continued experiences of and resilience within Indigenous communities. We are proud to be the caretakers of The Grand Behind Glenhyrst as stewards of knowledge for future generations.”
The next time you view the work at the AGH or you take a stroll along the Grand River, Niro hopes that you reflect on the majesty of the river and its importance to the communities along its banks throughout time.
“The Grand River is truly inspiring,” she says. “It’s something we should all be celebrating and interacting with, regardless of who you are.”
