Indigenous AF Opens New Wai Gallery in Las Vegas

The nonprofit project brings a dedicated space for Indigenous art and products to the local Arts District.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Native American

Flat opaque gouache-painted illustration of hand-carved weaving shuttles on a patterned rug, representing a new Indigenous-led art space.
Founders Fawn Douglas and A.B. Wilkinson have opened the Wai Gallery in the Las Vegas Arts District, providing a permanent retail and exhibition space for Indigenous artists. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The nonprofit organization Indigenous AF has opened the Wai Gallery in the Las Vegas Arts District. The new venue operates as both a gallery and a retail space showcasing work from Indigenous artists.

Why it matters

The project seeks to highlight Indigenous and local Las Vegas Valley artists while reclaiming a piece of ancestral Nuwuvi homelands for the community. The gallery provides a rare year-round platform for Indigenous-made goods.

The Wai Gallery features a retail shop offering products created by Indigenous makers on a year-round basis. The name Wai translates to the number two in the Paiute language.

The players

Indigenous AF

A nonprofit organization founded to promote Indigenous art and cultural initiatives.

Fawn Douglas

A citizen of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and a co-founder of the Indigenous AF nonprofit.

A.B. Wilkinson

A co-founder of the Indigenous AF organization working to support local art representation.

The details

Founders Fawn Douglas and A.B. Wilkinson established the gallery to serve as a hub for artists from across the Las Vegas Valley. The grand opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a prayer dedicated to blessing the studio space.

Timeline

  1. October 23, 2026: Wai Gallery grand opening.

Culture Shift

The establishment of the Wai Gallery signals a broader societal shift toward reclaiming and centering Indigenous voices within urban centers. This project mirrors the cultural restoration goals found in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Residents and visitors now have a dedicated location in the Arts District to purchase authentic goods directly from Indigenous makers. The gallery serves as a new cultural resource for those interested in local and tribal art traditions.

The takeaway

Supporting the Wai Gallery allows the public to directly contribute to the sustainability of Indigenous art practices in the valley. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery to learn more about the local Nuwuvi history and contemporary artistic contributions.

Further reading

Discover more stories about Native American culture and community developments in the region.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Nevada Public Radio.

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