Summer Yahbay-Peters
Contemporary Indigenous Artist
Saginaw Ojibwe • Mount Pleasant, MI
Artist Bio
Artist Statement
Summer Yahbay-Peters carries the stories of her Ojibwe heritage into the present—bead by bead, jingle dress by jingle dress, pucker toe moccasin by pucker toe moccasin. From her home in Michigan, she works in many forms: grayscale beadwork portraits, reimagined Ojibwe floral patterns in vibrant colors, painting on skateboards, textiles, jewelry, and woodcarving. Each medium is another language for telling the same truth—that Indigenous beauty and resilience are timeless.
Her practice is a daily act of resistance, remembrance, and reverence. In her hands, beads are not only glass but memory; florals are not only designs but teachings; portraits are not only likenesses but living spirits. Every work is both an offering to her ancestors and a vision for Indigenous futures yet to come.
Since entering national juried art shows in 2010, Summer has earned numerous honors, including two Best of Show awards. Her work resides in permanent collections from Boston to Los Angeles, including the Hood Museum at Dartmouth—quietly, defiantly, enduring.
Summer Yahbay-Peters has over 35 years of experience designing and fabricating intricate beaded works of art. Taught to bead at a young age by the matriarchs of her family, she fell in love with the practice and has carried it forward as both craft and cultural legacy.
Like her mother before her, Summer pursued higher education, earning an undergraduate degree in Law & Economics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). When she is not in the studio, she collaborates with other tribal professionals as a consultant on matters of tribal economic development and education. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College.
Her work blends traditional teachings with contemporary design, honoring the artistry of her ancestors while speaking to the future of Indigenous creativity. Summer’s full CV is available upon request at summer@summeryahbay.com.
(Fun facts: She has a deep love for flan and the vibrant charm of Santa Fe, NM.)
Upcoming Exhibitions & Juried Art Shows
September 28, 2025 - April 5, 2026
Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit MI
Acquisitions
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Lifeways, Mount Pleasant, MI
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
The Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, CA
Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis
