RONALD ALBERT CHEE
Navajo (Dineh) Artist

Ronald Chee was born in Gallup, New Mexico, in 1961, into the “Towering Rock People” and “Bitter Water People” clans.  Both of his parents are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.

Ronald believes that his innate talent as an artist comes from his parents who were both traditional Navajo silversmiths. Many of Ronald’s uncles and cousins are painters and silversmiths. His grandmother is a traditional Navajo rug weaver. Ronald began to draw and paint at about fours years of age; his favorite subject matter was the horse. His first works were in pencil and watercolor. Later (in 1994) he began painting with acrylics and in 1997 was introduced to oil-based etching inks, and the monotype printmaking process.

Chee is primarily a self-taught artist. He has taken some art classes so that he could better define his work and to begin to learn the language of art as well as something about art history. Today, Ronald continues to develop his artistic ability as a painter and is constantly searching for new ways to interpret his art. Of particular interest to Ronald are the Navajo myths about the ye`’ii.

Through traditional oral teachings and “sacred sweats”, Ronald has embraced the ye`’ii myths. He paints the ye`’ii as abstract impressionistic interpretations of the environment. Ronald shares the meaning of ye`’ii with his patrons by depicting the spirit of the environment as stages of emergence of the Dine’ through different world periods.  Through the different worlds, the Dine’ encountered all the elements and particles that would eventually become all living life. Thus, the Dine’ believe that we as a people are connected to all living matter in the spirit and physical worlds.

His work has toured nationally with Artoire out of Sag Harbor, NY. He also participates in various juried Indian art shows such as: The Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, AZ; SWAIA Indian Market, Santa Fe,NM; Southwest Museum Indian Market, Los Angeles, CA; Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market, Phoenix, AZ; and Museum of Man Indian Market, San Diego, CA.

Ronald wishes to thank the many collectors who have continued to support his work and his efforts as a Native American Indian artist. He was recently given a show at the Southwest Museum, Los Angeles. It runs through April, 2005.

Monotypes Available January 2005

These images were on display at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, February 4th - April 1st, 2005

	"Yeii"
	"Yeii- War Dance"
	"Yeii- Abstract"
	"Half Breed"
	"Twin"
	"The Bull"