Junior Indigenous Art Exhibition 2023
Please take some time to enjoy all 35 art pieces submitted to the 2023 Junior Indigenous Art Exhibition and Competition. This was the third year this art competition has taken place online and been open to all young Native artists from the Colorado Plateau and we received more submissions than ever before.
The Museum of Northern Arizona is grateful to the students who shared their art with us and to the teachers who helped encourage so many young artists and get submissions in. We could not hold this event without all of the talented young artists.
It was a pleasure to view and read about all the artwork that was submitted. Award decisions were made considering style, technique, and creativity. Thank you to the judges, Janet Yazzie, Jonah Hill, and Curtis Quam for making these difficult decisions.
Jr. Indigenous 2023 Award Winners
1st Youth Cultural Arts – Snow Bath by Viviana Keediibaa Porinchok, 9
2nd Youth Cultural Arts – Indigenous Creaturing by Brooklyn Begay, 12
1st Youth 2D & 3D Fine Arts – Cody Jesus by Kolton Begay, 9
2nd Youth 2D & 3D Fine Arts – The Beach by Michelle Billy, 7
1st Young Adult Cultural Arts – Blessings of the Kachina Gods by Brennan Garcia, 13
2nd Young Adult Cultural Arts – Bittersweet by Hailey Hayou, 18
1st Young Adult 2D & 3D Fine Arts – Art is Life by Jaylinda Woody, 16
2nd Young Adult 2D & 3D Fine Arts – My Fairy Lighthouse by Mylessya Benally, 17
Curtis Quam, Museum Technician and Cultural Educator of the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center shared, “Each artist is an important part of keeping our identities going.” Quam added that he hopes the young artists continue expressing themselves through art and said, “Talent is a part of it, but also never stopping.”