SHONTO BEGAY
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE EXHIBITION
OCTOBER 1-DECEMBER 31
Shonto Begay is a Diné (Navajo) artist from Kletha Valley, Arizona. Born one of sixteen children, Begay grew up herding sheep while attending the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school on the Navajo reservation. Begay has boundless gratitude towards living in and viewing the vast beauty of the Navajo land – his paintings live as expressions of the Shonto Plateau he calls home. His impressionistic, rhythmic brush strokes are visible in his paintings of desert vistas and colorful skies. He likens his artistic process to a “visual chant,” with each of his strokes being a syllable of a word which contributes to the prayer of the composition.
Shonto Begay | Monumental Glory, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 14 x 11 in. | $2,500
Shonto Begay | Firekeepers, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 12 x 9 in. | $1,300
Shonto Begay | Journey Between the Lines, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 18 x 24 in. | $5,000
Shonto Begay | Harvest Shelter, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 11 x 14 in. | $2,500
Shonto Begay | Lil’ Puppy, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 14 x 11 in. | $2,500
Shonto Begay | Anasazi Illumination, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 12 x 16 in. | $3,000
Shonto Begay | Homeward, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 10 x 10 in. | $1,200
Shonto Begay | Water in the Canyon, 2024 | acrylic on canvas | 40 x 30 in. | $8,500
Shonto Begay | Divine Connecting, 2022 | acrylic on canvas | 36 x 48 in. | $12,000
Shonto Begay | Party to Some Saint, 2022 | acrylic on canvas | 16 x 20 in. | $3,500
Shonto Begay | Book of Shepherd, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 30 x 40 in. | $8,000
Shonto Begay | Winter Rides In, 2022 | acrylic on canvas | 40 x 30 in. | $8,500
Shonto Begay | Road to Skeleton Mesa, 2016 | acrylic on canvas | 36 x 48 in. | $12,000
Shonto Begay | Road to Skeleton Mesa, 2016 | acrylic on canvas | 36 x 48 in. | $12,000
Shonto Begay | Hearth Glow, 2022 | acrylic on canvas | 12 x 16 in. | $3,000
Shonto Begay | Arrival of the Early Healers, 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 24 x 18 in. | $5,000
EXCLUSIVE ARTIST Q&A
YOU BEGAN PROFESSIONALLY WRITING, ILLUSTRATING AND PAINTING IN 1983 – WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER AS AN ARTIST?
An introvert from a Navajo medicine family, I was raised to give all aspects of life acknowledgment through the sacred motion of doing art. I have always believed art sustains and saves lives.
YOU HAVE SHARED THAT MUCH OF THE IMAGERY IN YOUR WORK DEPICTS YOUR “NAVAJO UPBRINGING AND THE REALITIES OF MODERN RESERVATION LIFE.” CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT THIS?
I create art through the lens of my upbringing. My joys and pains, dreams and experiences, grounded in my Navajo heritage, where mythology and spirituality significantly influence my work—mostly inspired by memories.
Shonto Begay
Lil’ Puppy, 2025
acrylic on canvas
14 x 11 in.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL STUDIO DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
My typical day revolves around music, paints, and brushes as I work on my canvas. I begin with a blank toned canvas and gradually coax a sentiment from the blank space. When I’m working on a major piece, I smudge the area with sage, pray with corn pollen, and listen to the Grateful Dead.
WHO OR WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? ARE THERE ANY THAT MAY SURPRISE US BASED ON THE VISUALS AND CONTEXT OF YOUR WORK?
I draw inspiration from a variety of artists and philosophical movements throughout history, as well as my own Navajo spiritual awareness. The great Italian Renaissance painters, the French Impressionists, and comic book illustrators all have a significant influence on my work.
Shonto Begay
Road to Skeleton Mesa, 2016
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 in.
All artworks featured in the gallery section of this online exclusive exhibition are available for acquisition at Modern West. Contact us at info@modernwestfineart.come to inquire on availability and/or to schedule an in-person appointment.