When Jeremy Dennis reflects on his work, he thinks of gratitude and “how much of my work is made possible by other people,” he says. Those people might include members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, of which he is a member; his family; those who have helped him with research; and those who have mentored him along the way. 

Mr. Dennis is a photographer and a storyteller. His work is on display in the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Gallery in the Richmond Art Center through June 8. The exhibit, “Everywhere But Unseen,” opened Thursday night, May 1. Also on view in the Barnes and Wilde galleries are the College-Level Art Seminar capstone exhibition and student artwork from all disciplines. Mr. Dennis is working next week on photographic projects as part of the Adolf and Virgina Dehn Visiting Artist Program. 

“When showing my work there is always the amazement of having space to be recognized and celebrated not only for my work but for the content I am presenting,” Mr. Dennis said. “The work here, as part of the exhibit in the Mercy Gallery, celebrates where I come from, my ancestry. Being able to leave Shinnecock and share that with a new community is really special. And because it is on a school campus, this is a very educational show, too.” 

The past, present, and future are represented on the walls of the gallery. “Appaquogee, East Hampton, N.Y., 2016,” is a photograph of what now is known as Lily Pond and the description says it “historically was a site where cattail flag reeds were harvested for wigwam coverings.”  

Nearby is a photograph titled “Reverend Paul Cuffee Burial Site, Hampton Bays, N.Y., 2017.” The information next to the photo of the site, marked by a single fenced-in grave, says the location was chosen because it once was the “meeting place of the old Indian church.” Cuffee was a well-known minister, and the site, says the description, is a “testament to his life and work among the Indigenous people of Long Island.” 

Moving through the gallery, Mr. Dennis explains that “one wall is dedicated to our powwow and Ma’s House, and that is an invitation to come visit eastern Long Island and see what we are like today and the other tribal members.” That wall displays a photo of Ma’s House, accompanied by an eight-minute documentary about the “transformation of his grandmother’s former house into a thriving hub for contemporary indigenous and BIPOC artists. The communal space now hosts an artist residency program, exhibitions, workshops, and public events.” The description of the photo of the Shinnecock Powwow Grounds says the four-day event over Labor Day weekend draws more than 15,000 each day, “serving as a cultural celebration and a fundraiser for the Shinnecock Nation.” 

Another wall displays portraits from a project that celebrates the contemporary and historical identities of the Shinnecock people. One is of Marcus Drew Williams from 2018. He is a Shinnecock Nation member, the description says, who is “challenging long-standing stereotypes of Native Americans through his work in theater and media production.” 

Mr. Dennis grew up on the Shinnecock Reservation, earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Stony Brook University, and received his master’s degree in fine arts from Penn State University. 

He said he tells “stories that need to be told or stories that are underrecognized. ... Everyone knows about the Hamptons but not the Shinnecock. We always say we have been there for over 13,000 years.” So, whether it is something that has been overlooked or omitted, Mr. Dennis said he seeks to let people “know about the incredible legacy” of his people.