Ambrose Begay, Navajo Artist

Ambrose Begay, Navajo Artist

Ambrose Begay is a self-taught Navajo painter born in September of 1962 between the Black Mesa and the Big Mountain of the Navajo reservation. He is a member of the Tacheeni clan (Red Streak in Water) and born for the Many Goats clan.

Ambrose remembers his first inspiration to paint coming when he was young. His family would spend the day tending livestock and doing chores typical to Navajo life. In the evenings he would watch his brothers Dan and Jim and his sister Rose drawing beside a kerosene lamp in their family home. Even with a full-days work behind them, they still had the energy and drive to create art.

In grade school at Shonto, Ambrose was first introduced to watercolors. An early teacher, Joann Smith, spent time after school working with Ambrose. In high school Ambrose took oil and acrylic painting classes. Although these mediums interested him, he has tended to stay with his fist love, watercolors.

These days Ambrose's favorite subject tends towards the many faces of Native American Pow-Wows. These gatherings bring an incredibly rich mixture of traditional and modern styles that Ambrose then attempts to capture.

Ambrose is able to mix another of his loves with his painting. Ambrose is an award winning rodeo rider and wherever there is an Indian rodeo, there's a Pow-Wow.

Ambrose is taking all his newfound popularity is stride. He still spends most of his time with his family and friends. His pride in the success only slips out when he talks about his hopes for the future. He would like to see his paintings hanging somewhere on every continent.

"I'm not a dancer, but I like to watch the people dance to the beat of the drums. It makes me proud to be Native American"

This painting is by Jason Chee, local Navajo artist. He was raised on the Navajo reservation, close to Chaco Canyon and educated through Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) boarding schools

Jason has taught art classes, workshops on communication in art and graphic design for government and tribal groups.


Jason also works as a graphic designer for our health and literacy promoting newspaper "The Rainbow Notes". The 'Mother & Child' is a print of an oil painting, it is framed and measures 18" x 24"