Gallery

origin.

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.

twilight girl in female rain Venaya Yazzie

Hadit'e II Neo Matriarch Series Venaya Yazzie 2017

.desert woman matriarch. acrylic mixed media on canvas 2014 by Venaya Yazzie

.woman of water. acrylic mixed media on canvas 2014 by Venaya Yazzie

.huerfano, Dine'tah. acrylic mixed media on canvas 2005 by Venaya Yazzie

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

.ba'hane' series.

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.