PHOTOGRAPHER SEEKS HEALING THROUGH ART
Fueled by a connection to his ancestors and culture, recent BYU grad Eugene Tapahe is on a mission to heal hearts through Native American dance.
Tapahe, an award-winning photographer and member of the Diné Navajo nation, says he was inspired to launch a new project during the pandemic – a time of uncertainty for many people around the globe. His newly created project, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project, was based off a Native American traditional dance of healing.
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF ART, PROVO, UT
April 25, 2025
BIOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHER SEEKS HEALING THROUGH ART
Fueled by a connection to his ancestors and culture, recent BYU gradaute, Eugene Tapahe, is on a mission to heal hearts through Native American dance. Tapahe, an award-winning photographer and member of the Diné Navajo nation, says he was inspired to launch a new project during the pandemic – a time of uncertainty for many people around the globe. His newly created project, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project, was based off a Native American traditional dance of healing.
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
April 25, 2025
Eugene Tapahe is an artist inspired by his Diné (Navajo) traditions and modern experiences. His art reflects the beauty and resilience of Native American culture. Tapahe received his MFA in Studio Art from Brigham Young University. Through his use of various visual mediums, he strives to create a balance between the past and present, mirroring the traditional stories and philosophy of his people.
Tapahe has received numerous awards, including the Best of Show award for his photography at the Cherokee Indian Market (2018) and The Museum of Northern Arizona (2019), making him the first photographer to achieve this honor.
Tapahe has also been honored with two International Awards of Excellence from Communication Arts magazine. His work is in the permanent collections of numerous museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Arizona State Museum, the Minnesota History Center Museum, and the College of Wooster Art Museum.
Tapahe showcases his work at prestigious art shows like the Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Guild Indian Market, Cherokee Indian Market, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. His art is represented by the Modern West Gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah; Monroe Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Rainmaker Gallery in Bristol, England; and Four Winds Gallery in Sydney, Australia.
Eugene Tapahe is Diné (Navajo) and originally from Window Rock, Arizona. He resides in Provo, Utah, with his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters, Erin and Dion.