“My work revolves around the Diné principle called Hózhó. Hózhó is a Navajo word connecting happiness, beauty, harmony, and goodness. Beauty comes within from ourselves, the land, our People, and the Universe, which is why I must paint.” -Monique Holiday

Monique Holiday is a Diné painter whose work reflects interconnected energies between the land, animals, and her tribe. She works primarily with acrylic, oil, and digital paints. Since she was a child, Monique enjoyed watching her father, Leland Holiday, paint and followed his footsteps. She practiced drawing and painting throughout her K-12 years. In 2014, Holiday won 1st place with her tribute painting to Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Young at Art! competition. That same year, she became a representing Artist at Toh-Atin Gallery alongside her father in Durango, Colorado, for 10 years. In 2023, Holiday graduated with a Bachelor’s in Studio Arts Painting from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work has been acquired by private, national, and international collectors. Besides creating art, Monique has spent four years promoting diverse artists, including Indigenous Nations, and their works as a gallery representative. In 2024, Holiday graduated from San Juan College with an Associate’s in Liberal Arts. This year, she is pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching Licensure at the Fort Lewis College Graduate Program. With three degrees, Monique plans to become an Art professor and teach within her community.