Andrew Van Tsinhnahjinnie
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Fine Arts represents
Andrew Van Tsinhnahjinnie
1916–2000
Andrew “Andy” Van Tsihnahjinnie (Diné/Navajo) was one of the pioneering Native American painters of the twentieth century and among the earliest artists to emerge from Dorothy Dunn’s influential Studio program at the Santa Fe Indian School. Celebrated for his paintings, watercolors, prints, murals, and sculpture, Van Tsihnahjinnie devoted his career to portraying the traditions, ceremonies, and everyday lives of the Diné people while continually evolving his artistic style over six decades. Born in 1916 near Chinle on the Rough Rock Navajo Reservation in Arizona, Van Tsihnahjinnie spent his childhood herding sheep and horseback riding, experiences that fostered a lifelong connection to the land and Navajo culture.
After attending the Fort Apache Indian School, where he endured difficult conditions, he eventually enrolled at the Santa Fe Indian School and became one of the first students selected for Dorothy Dunn’s newly established Studio art program. Dunn regarded him as one of her most gifted students, noting both his technical ability and tireless dedication to painting. Following graduation, Van Tsihnahjinnie worked as an illustrator for the Santa Fe Indian Service and received Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissions to design and paint murals throughout New Mexico and Arizona. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific. After returning home, he established a studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he worked as a full-time professional artist for the remainder of his life.
Throughout his career, Van Tsihnahjinnie remained deeply committed to depicting Diné life and culture. His work portrays ceremonies, family life, livestock, horses, traditional clothing, and the landscapes of the American Southwest with warmth, movement, and remarkable sensitivity. While his early paintings reflected the flat-style approach encouraged by The Studio, his later works embraced richer color, expressive brushwork, watercolor, oils, printmaking, and carved sculpture, demonstrating an artistic evolution that remained firmly rooted in Navajo identity.
Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Navajo artists of his generation, Van Tsihnahjinnie’s work helped expand public appreciation for Indigenous fine art while inspiring future generations of Native artists. His paintings balance traditional subject matter with a modern artistic sensibility, preserving cultural heritage while reflecting the changing experiences of Native communities throughout the twentieth century.
Today, his work is held in numerous public and museum collections, including the Denver Art Museum, the Gilcrease Museum, the Heard Museum, the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Philbrook Museum of Art, and other major institutions dedicated to American and Native American art.
Legacy
Andrew Van Tsihnahjinnie helped establish Native American painting as an important voice within American art. Through decades of innovation, he honored Diné traditions while continually expanding his artistic practice across painting, printmaking, mural work, watercolor, and sculpture. His work remains celebrated for its vibrant storytelling, cultural authenticity, and enduring contribution to the history of Indigenous art.
