Chip Thomas, a prominent public artist based in Flagstaff, has been honored as one of the 20 MacArthur Fellows this year.
On Tuesday, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation revealed its 2026 cohort for the renowned “Genius Grant,” a title often associated with the fellowship.
Recipients are awarded an $800,000 stipend to support their creative and influential work without any restrictions.
Thomas’s signature style includes large wheat paste murals scattered across the Navajo Nation, often depicting striking portraits of Navajo individuals on various structures like abandoned buildings and grain silos.
The MacArthur Foundation highlighted, “The portraits of Diné People of various ages and images of sheep, horses, and the landscape turn the structures into sites of cultural memory and affirmation.” Thomas’s collaborations span local communities and small institutions nationwide, creating murals that resonate with their lives.
Since 2009, his work has confronted themes of colonial violence, environmental issues, and the ongoing concerns surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous peoples, as well as the historical and modern impacts of uranium mining.
In 2012, Thomas initiated the Painted Desert Project, inviting street artists globally to participate in residencies on the Navajo Nation. His influence extends through various installations and exhibits across the United States.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Thomas dedicated 36 years to practicing medicine at the Inscription House Health Center on the Navajo Nation.
An art exhibit at Northern Arizona University delves into the history of Black workers who were instrumental in shaping the enduring image of the lumberjack in the western United States.
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