Robert Chee
(1938-1973)
Robert Chee was Diné. He served in the military from 1958 to 1961 and painted murals in Army buildings in Germany during that time. He studied with Allan Houser, the famous Apache artist. Chee is noted for two-dimensional strongly decorative work with bright colors. He adhered to all the characteristics of traditional Navajo painting and frequently used dark backgrounds and gold paint. His work is very fluid and with exceptional detail and finesse. The colors are bright, but soft at the same time. He was an exceptional painter. Chee had a short but very active career; he was just 34 when he died. It is a tragedy that he did not live longer.
Artist: Robert Chee (1938-1973)
Female & Male Navajo Children Profiles
Artist: Robert Chee (1938-1973)
Description: Watercolors | Image Size: 12”h x 12”w; Framed Size: 22”h x 22”w
These two simple profile portraits of a young girl and boy are set against a black background which serves to enhance the children’s features. Robert Chee was born in St. Michaels, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation. His artistic talents were recognized early on. He was enrolled at the Intermountain Indian School and studied with Allan Houser. Chee also served in the U.S. Army and painted murals at army bases.
Chee’s favored medium was watercolor and early on in his career he often used dark colored paper as background material. He was well-known for his distinctive flat-style painting which is reminiscent of the studio-style painting that was taught by Dorothy Dunn in Santa Fe. Chee later incorporated lighter colored paper backgrounds which changed the aesthetic of his work. His favorite subject matter was that of his people, the Diné, and often showed them participating in ceremonials, at work herding sheep, or in landscapes riding their horses.
Chee passed away much too soon at the age of 34. However, during his short career he accomplished much and participated in art shows and markets and received numerous accolades. His work can be found in museums such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum of Northern Arizona, Arizona State Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian as well as private collections.
Untitled Navajo Couple/Pair (Opaque Watercolor)
Artist: Robert Chee (1938-1973)
Description: Image Sizes: 14”h x 18”w; Framed Sizes: 24 ¼”h x 28 ¼”w
