Spring Day

As a printmaker, painter, and sculptor, my work draws upon my rich Diné (Navajo) heritage. The work I make attempts to follows the Diné dictum “walk in beauty” literally, creating beauty and harmony. As an artist, I work to serve as an agent of change by encouraging others to learn about social, cultural, and political phenomena shaping the contemporary lives of Native peoples in the United States and beyond. My work incorporates both personal experiences as well as the events and symbols from Dine culture. My early work focused on depictions of the harsh realities of Native peoples (i.e., racism, identity conflict, poverty, abuse, etc.) to bring to Native issues to the forefront, but more recently I have been making work with a positive twist. Due to personal health issues and trying to live a calmer life style, I have been focusing on quiet and balance. I believe my work is reflecting this shift. The work is also informed and shaped by personal experiences and tries to tell many stories about things both real and imagined. Melanie Yazzie exhibits internationally and has is represented exclusively by our gallery 1995. She is a Professor and Head of Printmaking in the Department of Art and Art History at University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.