 About
the Artist
John I. King, Dine’ (Navajo) artist was born and raised in the eastern
portion of the Navajo Reservation, in the small community of Iyanbito’, New
Mexico. It was here that John observed his father and his great-grandfather
(a traditional medicine man) produce sacred sandpaintings for curing
ceremonies with Yeis (Gods) and images that would later be interpreted in a
revered artistic form and grace the surface on his paintings. John’s work is
characterized by it’s simple yet skillful and articulate depiction of the
symbolic connections “between Indian people, especially the Dine’ (Navajo),
and the spiritual world where the Yeis (Gods), spirits, and creatures exist
in harmony, balance, and beauty.”
As a youngster, John attended a government Indian boarding school where for
the first time he was exposed to art work in books and magazines. He was
especially captivated by the traditional style watercolor art work by
renowned Dine’ artists such as Beattin Yazz (Little No Shirt), Harrison
Begay, Robert Chee, Andy Tsinnajinni, and Quincy Tahoma.
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| Enemy Way-First Riders |
John did not pursue the formal study of art. Instead, he achieved a civil
engineering degree and a masters degree in business administration from the
University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
John started painting on a professional level during 2000 and began entering
local exhibitions. He appeared for the first time on the Indian Market
circuit at the March 2001 Heard Museum Fair and Indian Market followed by an
appearance at the Red Earth Indian Market in Oklahoma City. He also appeared
at the Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market in Phoenix for the first time in
December 2001, where his painting Spirit Horses was chosen for the official
poster for the 2002 Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market.
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| When Brothers Meet For A Dance |
John also appeared for the first time at
the Santa Fe Indian Market in August 2002. He was awarded Best of Division
and Best of Category for his traditional style painting
Enemy Way-First
Riders. Then at the 2003 Santa Fe Indian Market he received another Best of
Category award for The Wager. In 2004, John was awarded the Santa Fe Indian
Market Best of Division and Best of Category for his traditional style
painting Always a Sure Ride. Incredibly, at the 2005 Santa Fe Indian Market,
he was awarded the Best of Division and Best of Category for
When Brothers
Meet For A Dance.
John currently resides in Albuquerque, and returns home regularly to
Iyanbito’ to visit his family.
Artist Reserves all Copyright
www.nizhonispirithorse.com
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