Carl Beam was a pioneering Indigenous artist known for his powerful explorations of identity, colonization, and cultural history. A member of the M’Chigeeng First Nation (Ojibwe), Beam’s work incorporated painting, printmaking, and mixed media collage, blending traditional Indigenous imagery with contemporary themes.

His art often juxtaposed historical photographs, text, and symbolic elements to critique colonialism and challenge mainstream narratives. Beam was the first Indigenous artist to have his work acquired by the National Gallery of Canada as contemporary art, rather than ethnographic work—an important milestone in Canadian art history.

His influence remains strong in Canadian contemporary art, with his work housed in major public and private collections.