TONY ABEYTA BIOGRAPHY

Tony Abeyta was born in Gallup New Mexico of Navajo indian and anglo descent, he attended a multi-cultural high school and continued his art school emphasis at the Institute of American Indian Arts in santa fe N.M.
" I was fortunate to study in an enviornment ,where the focus was not only on art but there was also native american students from all over the united states".
It was this intertribal atmosphere and artistic community that was to affect Tony throughout his career.
The Maryland Institute, College of Art, two years of studies abroad in both France and Italy,The Chicago Art Institute and finally his masters of art from New York University all helped hone and further develop Tony's art history and personal style.
In 2000, A 10 year retrospective at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles Ca. featured over 40 works from both public and private collections.
In 2004, during the grand opening of the National Museum of the American Indian on Washington D.C 's mall. Tonys multi panel painting "Anthem" was chosen as the openings days official image displayed on all banners of the mall and on all the official posters and invitations to this momentous event.
Abeyta's work is included in several museum collections and many private collections internationally. His work is featured in several books, periodicals and catalogs.
Tony lives both in Chicago Illinios and Taos, New Mexico where he supports several museum and native american organizations and has served on the board of the Institute of American Indian arts, the Wheelwright Museum, Santa Fe's Indian market [SWAIA}, United way of Santa Fe county, and the Taos art Museums.
"I consider myself an urban indian and a traditionally inspired Navajo at the same time. the progressive world which globalizes around us, becomes an exciting place to contribute my art into, as I create from a native american vocabulary I am reminded that this world changes and reinvents itself and therefore so should I."
Tony continues to paint professionally In both places with a son studying film in Chicago and a daughter who lives in Taos. Abeyta works in multi-mediums as well as sculpture while continuing to expierment with contemporary concepts and new directions.ir
" within the context of painting, i leave no stone unturned, I try to expierment with images both personal and universal."