Pharaoh 171 is the artistic moniker for Joseph ‘Sagonige Yanasi’ Pekara, a three-time Grammy Award, and two-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 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 venues—especially of 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 also includes 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.
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.
This exhibition combines Pekara’s photography and 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.
February 16, 2024 - May 12, 2024
Gregory Allicar Museum of Art
1400 Remington St
Fort Collins, CO