Andrew Keedah Hobson developed his love
of art at an early age on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona,
where the tradition of the Navajo people was expressed in many forms
such as weaving, silversmithing, sand painting, pottery making, drawing
and painting. Andrew, of Irish and Navajo lineage, left the Reservation
at the age of 13 to attend Cushing Academy, a boarding school in
Massachusetts where he was afforded the opportunities to delve into and
experiment with many different art forms such as sculpture, painting and
drawing. Andrew returned to Arizona where he completed his Bachelor of
Arts in Fine Art at Arizona State University in 2003. With his main
focus on oil and acrylic painting, Andrew has developed his own unique
style of expression through musical pattern arrangements, rhythm,
movement, and color in his artwork.
Andrew has depicted the music, song and dance of his Native culture through his colorful and powerful images in his paintings. His love of music is very prominent in his artwork that depicts musicians, instruments, and various musical genres. His artwork contains an engaging variety of rhythm, pattern and symbolic imagery reminiscent of the traditional designs of Navajo sand paintings. Influenced by Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Degas, Cezanne, De Kooning, Basquiat, Lichtenstein, and all the old masters, Andrew believes that his artwork celebrates his own culture and life experiences in a modern/contemporary style.
In addition to his devotion to his own artwork, Andrew is an art teacher. He mentors young Native American high school students and helps them develop their own artistic talents. Andrew's students have created many vivid and provoking murals at the Reservation high school combining symbols and themes that represent the storytelling tradition of Native peoples.
Andrew also developed a passion for competing in the Scottish Highland Heavy Athletics, a competition of strength and skill in eight traditional events of throwing. The events consist of tossing heavy stones for distance, massive weights for height and distance and other various strength events. What began as a simple passion for throwing soon turned into a professional career. Drawing on his love of the sport, camaraderie of the highland games community, and respect of the Gaelic tradition of the Scots and Irish, Andrew's work is deeply influenced by these ancient athletics, depicting the movement, the music, and the athletic grace in a way that brings his paintings to life.
Andrew has depicted the music, song and dance of his Native culture through his colorful and powerful images in his paintings. His love of music is very prominent in his artwork that depicts musicians, instruments, and various musical genres. His artwork contains an engaging variety of rhythm, pattern and symbolic imagery reminiscent of the traditional designs of Navajo sand paintings. Influenced by Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Degas, Cezanne, De Kooning, Basquiat, Lichtenstein, and all the old masters, Andrew believes that his artwork celebrates his own culture and life experiences in a modern/contemporary style.
In addition to his devotion to his own artwork, Andrew is an art teacher. He mentors young Native American high school students and helps them develop their own artistic talents. Andrew's students have created many vivid and provoking murals at the Reservation high school combining symbols and themes that represent the storytelling tradition of Native peoples.
Andrew also developed a passion for competing in the Scottish Highland Heavy Athletics, a competition of strength and skill in eight traditional events of throwing. The events consist of tossing heavy stones for distance, massive weights for height and distance and other various strength events. What began as a simple passion for throwing soon turned into a professional career. Drawing on his love of the sport, camaraderie of the highland games community, and respect of the Gaelic tradition of the Scots and Irish, Andrew's work is deeply influenced by these ancient athletics, depicting the movement, the music, and the athletic grace in a way that brings his paintings to life.