Warrior Releasing Earth Spirit

Chee has treated his subject in a remarkably inventive way.

(1937-1972, Navajo) Robert Chee attended the Intermountain Indian School at Brigham City, Utah. He was a student of Allan Houser. His Indian name was Hashke-yil-e-dale.

Chee's preference for depicting people set him apart from many Navajo painters. He often painted them in clusters, as they functioned in social groups. His figures are portrayed with a sensitivity to the Navajo personality. Mark Bahti produced a coloring book in 1975 titled The Navajo, whereupon Chee's drawings represent the outlines to teach students about the Navajo people and their way of life. Chee won awards at Navajo Tribal Fairs, at the Philbrook Art Center in Oklahoma and at the Inter-Tribal Indian ceremonies.