Gallery

origin.story

growing up on & off the eastern Dine' rez lands, I was blessed to have been raised by my

maternal grandparents. the women of my family raised me & therefore instilled the ways of

the matriarch. I am continually & wholly inspired the strong female presence within the

cultural & modern ways of living in the Navajo world. the female imagery depicted in my

two-dimensional work is a kind of homage to the Navajo matriarchs of the past and the

present. throughout my life I have been exposed to a rich tradition of Indigenous women's

adornment. and too, I am wholly aware of the connection to the land and the sacredness of

creation.

2022.

.earth & sky: relationship/ kinship series

these works are solely focused on the 'adornment' of the earth and the sky. the relationship

they keep is a sacred connection. all works are acrylic on canvas by Venaya J Yazzie

Love Songs of the Sky and Mountain II, 2022 Venaya J Yazzie

Love Songs of the Sky and Mountain I, 2022 Venaya J Yazzie

Cedar Mesa Sky I, 2022 Venaya J Yazzie

2021

.sister series, shideezhi soo shadi

these works were inspired by the Dine' (Navajo) matriarchy of clanship/kinship or as the

Dine' know, "cousin-sisters." the expressions differ in regards to sisterhood, and are based on

the age of each female.

2015

.first world series.

in this work i find inspiration from the revisited origin stories of my indigenous matriarchal

heritage of Navajo and Hopi ancestors.

2014 -2020

.ba'hane' series - matriarcy.

this work was wholly inspired by my cultural memory of my childhood on the eastern Dine' lands in New Mexico. it concerns reservation/political boundaries of land and language, and too perpetuates dialogue of Navajo cultural adornment, matriarchy, and issues of the land and natural resources as they are connected to the spiritual and physical. these works are mixed media acrylic pieces on canvas.

2013

.nava-hopi series.

this body of work consists of the role of the southwest desert Indigenous woman. the concepts sought in the work concerns: trek, migration, cultural adornment, matriarchy, happiness, reflection, prayer, solace, strength, trails, mapping.