Bill Holm—In Memoriam 1925–2020

So many artists and elders across the Northwest Coast knew Bill Holm personally. Thousands of others know his work through his 1965 foundational publication Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form which has sold over 120,000 copies and is a staple on the workbench of many artists on the Northern Coast. Puyallup artist Shaun Peterson shared that “Anyone who is curious about this art generally starts with Bill’s book.” Holm went on to publish eight more books and countless articles on Northwest Coast art. He was a prolific correspondent, even into his 90s,  always replying to inquiries from artists with as much historical information as he could provide.

Bill Holm was Curator Emeritus of Northwest Coast Art at the Burke Museum and Professor Emeritus of Art History at the University of Washington. His years at the Burke Museum established relationships and ethics of practice that are still in place today. Ninety-five years of boundless curiosity, of limitless sharing of skills and knowledge, of earnest creating of connections across generations, across cultures, is the cherished legacy we have all received from him.