Robert Chee | |
|---|---|
Hashke-Yil-Cale | |
 Ettore DeGrazia, Harrison Begay, and Robert Chee (circa 1960) in Tucson, Arizona | |
| Born | December 14, 1937[1] St. Michaels, Arizona, U.S.[1] |
| Died | 1971 St. Michaels, Arizona, U.S. |
| Other names | Hashke-Yil-E-Cale |
| Spouse | Louise |
| Children | 2 |
Robert Chee, also known as Hashke-Yil-Cale (1937–1971)[1][2] was a Navajo contemporary artist and author. He is best known for his painting and serigraphy,[3][4] but he also worked as an illustrator, and weaver.
Robert Chee was born on December 14, 1937, in St. Michaels, Arizona.[5][2] In early age, he attended school in Bellemont.[5] His artistic talent was recognized in childhood, he started painting at age 10.[6] Chee was enrolled in the Intermountain Indian School, where he studied under Allan Houser.[1][7][6] He had been a member of Tewa Enterprises (around 1951), the Native American printmaking group.[8]
From 1958 to 1961, Chee served in the United States Army and painted murals at army bases including one in Mainz, Germany.[1][5] In 1959 and 1960, Chee won first prize at the Navajo Tribal Fair,[5] and the Gallup Ceremonials in 1966.[2] In 1963, Chee won first prize at the Philbrook Art Center (now known as the Philbrook Museum of Art).[5]
Chee's favorite medium to work in was watercolor,[1] and he often used darker-colored paper (typically black or blue papers) as a background.[2] He was known for his distinct flatstyle painting, which was in part a reflection of the earlier "studio-style" of painting taught at Dorothy Dunn's art classes in the Santa Fe Indian School's Studio School.[1][9] His later work shows the suggestion of a foreground with hills or the sprigs of plants coming from the earth.[2] In 1969, Chee started using lighter colored paper (grey or white papers), which changed the feeling of many of his works.[2]
Chee died in late 1971.[2] His work can be found in public museum collections including the Minneapolis Institute of Art,[10] Museum of Northern Arizona,[11] Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art,[12] Arizona State Museum,[13] Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art,[14] the Penticton Gallery,[15] and the National Museum of the American Indian.[16]
