Mural by Chip Thomas

Opening: Sunday March 23, 3:30 pm
Exhibition Dates: Ongoing

From Small School:

Chip Thomas aka “jetsonorama” is a photographer, public artist and activist who worked as a physician between Monument Valley and The Grand Canyon on the Navajo nation from 1987 to 2023. There, he coordinated the Painted Desert Project – a community building project which manifested as a constellation of murals across the Navajo Nation painted by artists from all over the rez + the world. These murals aimed to reflect love and appreciation of the rich history shared by the Navajo people back to Navajo people. Thomas was a 2018 recipient of a Kindle Project gift and in 2020 was one of a handful of artists chosen by the UN to recognize the 75th anniversary of the UN’s founding. Artists were chosen to generate work that “contributes to the envisioning and shaping of a more resilient and sustainable future.” Thomas is originally from Raleigh, and has been participating in a residency in Raleigh.

Image credit: Outside Magazine

This project was made possible by support from Small School, Raleigh Arts, City of Raleigh Museum, City of Raleigh Historic Resources and Museum Program, REdesign.build, Will Alphin, Carmen Cauthen, and Lump Gallery.