Virgil J. Nez - Biography - The Art of Painting


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Virgil Julis Nez

1963     Born in Pinon on the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona

1983-1985     Studies in Architecture and Fine Arts at Mesa Community College
1991     Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration and Painting, Northern Arizona University

1991     First place in painting category at Navajo Nation Fair.

1992     Best of Division in Painting at the Navajo Show, Museum of Northern Arizona, with "Ye'noloo'shi" ("TheShapeshifter"), 4'x8' oil on stretched canvas
    First place at annual poster exhibition, Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market in Phoenix, Arizona

1993     First place in oil painting, first place in watercolor painting, and first place in pastel drawing at The Navajo Show in Flagstaff, Arizona

1994     First place at annual poster exhibition, Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market in Phoenix, with "The Scent Of The Coming Rain"
    Appeared in Arizona Highways Magazine, November edition, with "Three Generational Yei's", 4'x8' oil on stretched canvas
    Featured in the book "Enduring Traditions" by Lois and Jerry Jacka

1995     Best of Division, painting category, at the Navajo Show in Flagstaff

1996     First place in oil painting at Santa Fe Indian Market

2001     First and second place in watercolor painting at the Navajo Show in Flagstaff, Museum of Northern Arizona
    Merit Award in oil painting for "Shapeshifter". The University of Kansas Museum of Anthropology, Lawrence, Kansas

2002     Honorable mentioning at Heard Museum Indian Market
    Exhibition and presentation at Galerie Kokopelli in Moenchengladbach, Germany
    Publication of bi-lingual calendar in Navajo and English

2003     First place at Santa Fe Indian Market in pastel medium, 2003.

2004     Second place award in pastel drawing at Eiteljorg Musuem at Indianapolis, Indiania (June 2004)
    First Place in mixed-medium award at World Arts Festival at Prescott, Arizona (2004).
    Featured artist for Litchfield Park, Arizona Art Festival and appeared in Arizona Republic newspaper (2004).

2005     Featured artist at American Indian Artist of America Indian Market at Scottsdale, AZ. February 2005.

    Award of Excellence at South West Indian Art Fair, Arizona State Musuem, Annual Tucson Indian Market, March 2005.
    Honorable Mentioning at Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, June 2005.
    First Place in all drawing category at Santa Fe Indian Market, August 2005.

Continues to exhibit at major art shows and markets in the Western United States and beyond. Guest speaking engagements at schools and events.
Works are represented at Hand Made Gallery in Flagstaff, and Rainbow Gallery in Sedona, Arizona,
and Europe at Galerie Kokopelli in Moenchengladbach, Germany.

1963	Born in Pinon on the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona
1983-1985	Studies in Architecture and Fine Arts at Mesa Community College
1991	Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration and Painting, Northern Arizona University
1991	First place in painting category at Navajo Nation Fair.
1992	Best of Division in Painting at the Navajo Show, Museum of Northern Arizona, with "Ye'noloo'shi" ("TheShapeshifter"), 4'x8' oil on stretched canvas First place at annual poster exhibition, Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market in Phoenix, Arizona
1993	First place in oil painting, first place in watercolor painting, and first place in pastel drawing at The Navajo Show in Flagstaff, Arizona
1994	First place at annual poster exhibition, Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market in Phoenix, with "The Scent Of The Coming Rain" Appeared in Arizona Highways Magazine, November edition, with "Three Generational Yei's", 4'x8' oil on stretched canvas Featured in the book "Enduring Traditions" by Lois and Jerry Jacka
1995	Best of Division, painting category, at the Navajo Show in Flagstaff
1996	First place in oil painting at Santa Fe Indian Market
2001	First and second place in watercolor painting at the Navajo Show in Flagstaff, Museum of Northern Arizona Merit Award in oil painting for "Shapeshifter". The University of Kansas Museum of Anthropology, Lawrence, Kansas
2002	Honorable mentioning at Heard Museum Indian Market Exhibition and presentation at Galerie Kokopelli in Moenchengladbach, Germany Publication of bi-lingual calendar in Navajo and English
2003	First place at Santa Fe Indian Market in pastel medium, 2003.
2004	Second place award in pastel drawing at Eiteljorg Musuem at Indianapolis, Indiania (June 2004) First Place in mixed-medium award at World Arts Festival at Prescott, Arizona (2004). Featured artist for Litchfield Park, Arizona Art Festival and appeared in Arizona Republic newspaper (2004).
2005	Featured artist at American Indian Artist of America Indian Market at Scottsdale, AZ. February 2005.
	Award of Excellence at South West Indian Art Fair, Arizona State Musuem, Annual Tucson Indian Market, March 2005. Honorable Mentioning at Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, June 2005. First Place in all drawing category at Santa Fe Indian Market, August 2005.