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Ramona Lynn Sakiestewa
Ramona Sakiestewa, Native American artist.jpg
Sakiestewa in 2015
Born 1948 (age 76–77)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Nationality American, Hopi
Education School of Visual Arts
Known for Tapestries

Ramona Sakiestewa (born 1948) is a talented Hopi Native American artist. She lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ramona is famous for her beautiful tapestries, art on paper, and large art projects in public places. She also creates designs for buildings.

Early Life and Learning

Ramona Sakiestewa was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her father was Hopi, and her mother had German, English, and Irish roots.

She went to school at Verde Valley School in Sedona, Arizona. She also studied at Santa Fe Prep in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To learn more about design and color, Ramona moved to New York City. In the late 1960s, she studied at the School of Visual Arts.

After her studies, she came back to the Southwest. She worked as an arts administrator at the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

Ramona's Art Career

Starting as a Weaver

Ramona Sakiestewa taught herself how to weave. She used old weaving methods from the Pueblo people of the American Southwest. In her early work, she used yarn that she spun and dyed herself.

She learned about natural plant dyes from the Americas. She also learned how to dye with cochineal (a red dye) and indigo (a blue dye). Ramona changed old weaving methods to work on a horizontal floor loom. In 1981, she opened her own weaving studio. It was called Ramona Sakiestewa Ltd. Here, she wove unique tapestries full-time.

Her first weavings were simple rugs with stripes. They were in the classic Pueblo style but with modern colors. She learned by reading books and with help from friends. Ramona became very good at dyeing yarn. She started showing her work at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Ramona often made tapestries that were about 50 by 70 inches. Her art is usually abstract. This means it uses shapes and colors to show ideas, not realistic pictures. She says this style comes naturally to her. It helps her capture the feeling of her subjects. These subjects might be special objects, ceremonies, or the beautiful landscape of the Southwest.

"(Sakiestewa) has pressed issues of scale, texture, color and tone in works that shatter old barriers separating weaving, painting and mixed media." - Ann Lane Hedlund

In the late 1980s, Ramona wove thirteen tapestries. These were based on drawings by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. She made them for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

From 1985 to 1991, she also made six tapestries. These were for Gloria Frankenthaler Ross atelier in New York City. They were based on paintings by the artist Kenneth Noland. Ramona also designed special blankets. Some were for Dewey Trading Company, made by Pendleton Blankets. Others were for her "Ancient Blanket Series," woven by Scalamandre.

Art in Buildings and Design

In 1994, Ramona Sakiestewa was asked to join a special team. This team was designing the National Museum of the American Indian. This museum is part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. It was a 10-year project.

Ramona helped create the overall design style for the museum. She worked with others to design many parts of the building. These included the main entry doors and a large copper screen wall. She also designed a huge theater curtain and other elements. The museum opened on September 21, 2004. Ramona also wrote an essay for the museum's book, Spirit of a Native Place.

In 2009, Ramona closed her weaving studio. She wanted to focus more on art on paper, painting, and building design projects. She continued to work with architects. She designed parts for the Tempe Center for the Performing Arts in Arizona. She also worked on projects for the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. Other projects included the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Oklahoma and the Komatke Health Center in Arizona.

Because of her experience with public art and Native American culture, Ramona is a popular advisor. Many people ask for her advice on cultural projects around the world. She even worked as a design consultant for an observatory at the University of New Mexico.

Helping the Arts Community

In 1980, Ramona Sakiestewa made history. She became the first Native American woman to lead the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA). This group hosts the yearly Santa Fe Indian Market.

Ramona has also served on many important boards. She was the chair of the New Mexico Arts Commission. She was a trustee for the International Folk Art Foundation in Santa Fe. She was also appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior to a board for national parks. Ramona was a member of the New Mexico Coin Commission. She was also a trustee for the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe.

Awards and Honors

Ramona Sakiestewa has won many awards for her art.

  • She received the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2006.
  • She also won the Governor's Outstanding New Mexico Woman's Award in 2006.
  • In 2006, she was added to the New Mexico Women's Hall of Fame.
  • She was honored by the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in 2007.
  • In 2001, she was chosen as an artist for Gift to the Nation. This project helps art and preservation in embassies.
  • From 1982 to 1991, she won awards in the Contemporary Weaving division at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Ramona's Family Life

In 1978, Ramona married the poet Arthur Sze. They have one son named Micah F.H. Sakiestewa Sze, born in 1979. In 1998, Ramona married Andrew F. Merriell, who is an architect and exhibit designer.

Art in Museums and Shows

Ramona Sakiestewa's art is shown in many museums and exhibitions.

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