Darren Vigil Gray facts for kids

Darren Vigil Gray is a talented Jicarilla Apache artist. He is known for his paintings and also plays music. His art is inspired by a style called abstract expressionism, like the work of Jackson Pollock. He also gets many ideas from his own Jicarilla Apache heritage.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Darren Vigil Gray was born in Dulce, New Mexico. His father was a rodeo cowboy and rancher. He also played guitar in a band. His mother studied opera and encouraged Darren to learn piano and drums. These early experiences showed him that "music and art are linked."

When he was a teenager, his parents divorced. This made him want to find his own path. He saw a UFO in fourth grade, which made him believe "anything is possible." This inspired him to become an artist.

During his teen years, he spent summers at pow-wows with his cousin. He learned traditional dances and explored his Native heritage. He also spent time with artist relatives, Francis and Nossman Vigil. They helped him see art in new ways.

Gray never wanted to be labeled only as a "Native artist." He wanted to be free to create any art he wished. He also decided not to teach art. He felt it might make him stick to one style.

Darren Gray gets his ideas from many places. These include his roots, Apache rituals, and the landscapes of the Southwest. His wife and his travels also inspire him. He is proud of his Native background and often visits his home community.

He believes that children's art is the "purest." He thinks kids paint from their heart and spirit. Gray also feels it's important to keep trying new things in his art. He sometimes makes a "mess" by turning his paintings around. From this chaos, he finds the right forms for his art.

Personal Life

Darren Gray is married to Jill Momaday. She is the daughter of the Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday. They have two daughters together. Gray became a husband and father at a young age. This gave him many responsibilities early on.

They live near Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is where he went to school and started his art career. Even though he moved from the reservation, he often goes back to connect with his roots.

Education and Mentors

After his parents' divorce, Gray got permission to go to school away from the reservation. He went to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. He attended the high school program there from 1975 to 1977. He studied with Otellie Loloma.

Gray had never made art before IAIA. He discovered a love for it that changed his whole view. He saw the work of Fritz Scholder and T.C Cannon. T.C Cannon became his mentor. Gray's early art looked a lot like Cannon's.

In 1978, he transferred to The College of Santa Fe. He stayed there for a year. He met artists Tesmar Mitchell and Ron Picco there. From 1985 to 1986, he attended The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He believes all the people he met during his education helped his art grow.

Notable Artworks

"Muse On" (2018)

This painting is at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. Gray says he wanted to show a special place from his childhood. He kept adding to it until it felt right. He painted where his people, the Jicarilla Apache, used to live. This artwork shows his deep connection to his land.

"Expanding Horizons" (2018)

This piece is also at The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. It shows Gray's unique way of painting landscapes. His method is inspired by abstract expressionism and his inner feelings. He uses many abstract ideas to express his thoughts.

"Abiquiu Sunrise"

This painting shows Gray's most common style. It is an abstract expressionist work on canvas. It includes landscapes from Northern New Mexico and figures with their own stories. This painting was influenced by artists like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and T.C Cannon. Gray believes this piece needs to be experienced, not just understood easily.

Exhibitions and Collections

Darren Gray's art has been shown in many places. He has had both solo shows (where only his art is displayed) and group shows (where his art is shown with others). His work is also part of several museum collections.

Solo Exhibitions

• (1989) "Five Contemporary Native American Artists," The Gibbs Museum, Charleston, South Carolina
• (1995) "Campsite," Peyton-Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (1995) "The Walk," Friesen Gallery, Seattle, Washington
• (2002) "Common Ground," Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
• (2002) "Counterclockwise/20 year Retrospective," Wheelwright Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2003) "We’re Still Here With the Mountains," The Hubbard Museum of the American West, Ruidoso, New Mexico
• (2011) "Motherland of Basketmakers #16," Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
• (2018) "Expanding Horizons," Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "Bring of Light of Day," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "The Screech of Birds," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "The Sentinel," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "Ancient AAbiquiu #3," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "High Dessert Drifter," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "Raise the Dust," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2018) "Rodeo Queen," Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Group Exhibitions

• (1981) Turtle Museum Premier Art Show, Niagara Falls, New York
• (1979) Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York, New York
• (1978–79) Annual Indian Market Show, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (1986) Politics Now Exhibit, Reinventing Politics Symposium, Telluride, Colorado
• (1990) The Art of the West Invitational, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana
• (1993) Lollapalooza Tour, Native American Mural Project, Various U.S. cities
• (1996) Charlie Russell Art Auction, Great Falls, Montana
• (1997) The IAIA Experience, Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• (2006) "Instincts Keep Me Running Like A Deer," LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM

Collections

• Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe N.M
• Wheelwright Museum- Santa Fe, N.M
• National Museum of American Arts, Washington, DC
• IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
• Heard Museum, Phoenix Arizona
• Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado

Awards and Recognition

In 2010, Darren Vigil Gray received the Mayor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts from Santa Fe. This award recognized his important contributions to the art world.