Zia Benita

Zia Benita, 1991, R.C. Gorman, lithograph, presents a standing Navajo woman in traditional dress against a dramatic sky gradient of deep blues, warm oranges, and peachy tones suggesting sunrise or sunset light. She wears a vibrant rust-orange blanket and ornamental striped necklace in turquoise and complementary colors. At her feet lie red chile ristras, adding cultural specificity and earthy grounding to the composition. The woman’s upright stance and skyward gaze convey pride, joy, and spiritual aspiration. Gorman’s masterful color lithography captures the full luminosity of desert light and the warmth of cultural pride. The blend of cool sky tones and warm earthly elements creates dynamic visual harmony. A joyous celebration of Navajo identity, feminine strength, and the New Mexican landscape. A must-have lithograph for collectors of Navajo fine art, Southwest landscape-figure compositions, and Gorman’s major works from the 1990s.