As a printmaker, painter, and sculptor, my work draws upon my rich Diné (Navajo) heritage. The work I make attempts to follow the Diné (Navajo) dictum “walk in beauty” literally, creating beauty and harmony. As an artist, I work to serve as an agent of change by encouraging others to learn about social, cultural, and political phenomena shaping the contemporary lives of Native peoples in the United States and beyond. My work incorporates both personal experiences as well as the events and symbols from Diné culture. My early work focused on depictions of the harsh realities of Native peoples (i.e., racism, identity conflict, poverty, abuse, etc.) to bring to Native issues to the forefront, but more recently I have been making work with a positive twist. Due to personal health issues and trying to live a calmer lifestyle, I have been focusing on quiet and balance. I believe my work is reflecting this shift. The work is also informed and shaped by personal experiences and tries to tell many stories about things both real and imagined. Melanie Yazzie exhibits internationally and is represented by our gallery exclusively since 1994. She is a Professor and Head of Printmaking in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.

Melanie Yazzie works in a wide range of media that include printmaking, painting, sculpting, and ceramics, as well as installation art. Her art is accessible to the public on many levels and the main focus is on connecting with and educating people about the contemporary status of one indigenous woman and hoping that people can learn from her experience. Her subject matter is significant because the serious undertones reference native post-colonial dilemmas. Her work often brings images of women from many indigenous cultures to the forefront. Thus her work references matrilineal systems and points to the possibility of female leadership. "There are many layers to the works and within the story, many discover that our history is varied and deep. It is made clear that there are many indigenous peoples in the world and we all have different stories and it sometimes has a sad connection to mainstream society. Often misunderstood and overlooked are the ways in which we can all learn from each other and make a better world." She has been represented by Glenn Green Galleries since 1993.