Indigenous culture is too often trapped in history books or reduced to outdated stereotypes. People of the Good River challenges these misconceptions by capturing the vibrant, everyday realities of Indigenous people living in Cincinnati today. Grounded in the legacy of the Ohi-yo—the Seneca word for "Good River"—this exhibition pairs candid portrait photography with hand-pulled screen printing on paper. Each physical layer of ink builds a portrait of modern life, work, and community, moving past romanticized tropes to celebrate an enduring present and archive for the people who are actively shaping Cincinnati's contemporary narrative.

“They say the truth is in the eye of the beholder… but who’s looking?”
~ Leonard Harmon

Leonard Harmon has always been drawn to a life of expression. Leonard credits a large part of his passion to, as he puts it, his “direct bloodline to art.” His father was a furniture maker and his uncle and namesake, Leonard Allen Harmon, was a well-known portrait artist featured in the Heard Museum of Arizona. Art, in one form or the other, was always present in his life. As a young man, he was inspired by his grandparents' love of cooking to attend Johnson & Wales University, one of the finest culinary schools in the country, where he not only learned the fine art of creating culinary masterpieces but also began to explore his love of music. Eventually touring the country as a DJ, it wasn’t until 2010 that Leonard began to explore a new form of expression: traditional and contemporary mixed media.

In an interview with The Stranger, Leonard explains, “I like using older images to tell a new story of putting perspective on our history. As a new artist, I like exploring all kinds of methods and mediums. Each new style I incorporate helps me express myself in a new way. I’m never scared to try new things and see where my mind takes me.”

A citizen of the Lenape Tribe of New Jersey and the Nanticoke Tribe of Delaware, Leonard currently lives on the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indian Reservation. He reflects often on traveling to Connecticut and Oklahoma to attend Powwows and be immersed in his culture. He continues to be actively involved in tribal traditions on the Siletz Reservation. This immersion is seen in his work as he takes inspiration from his ancestors to put modern spins on traditional arts.

Curated by

Curated by CAC's Education Department