Heidi Brandow, Painter
ARTIST STATEMENT
My artwork is a reflection of my life as a Diné (Navajo) and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) woman. It mirrors my communities—the places I grew up, the oceans I swam in, the playgrounds where we laughed, the land that nurtured us, and the places filled with collective memories. My ancestors were resourceful and innovative; I strive to embody these qualities. While honoring our history, I am also rooted in the present, navigating a fast-paced world with creativity and adaptability.
This blend of heritage and modernity shines through in my art, expressed with diverse materials, patterns, colors, and characters. My artwork captures the velocity of life, our need for agility, and the importance of a sense of humor. It is a celebration of the past and present, inviting others to explore and connect with their own journeys.
With their bright colors and shiny surface from a layer of acrylic resin, paintings by Heidi K. Brandow (Diné & Kānaka Maoli) embody seemingly contradictory ideas. Playful, but serious. Orderly, but wild. Organic, but industrial. With an almost collage-like composition, Brandow juxtaposes spirited figures from Pacific Rim cultures, including cartoonish smiling faces and monsters, with geometric design elements found in ceramics and textiles from the Southwest, bringing together different sides of family. Some of her works consider the inner workings of mechanical constructions while other pieces address the unseen world of spirits and ghosts. Her educational background reflects the many interests in her work. Brandow studied industrial design at Istanbul Technical University and earned a BFA at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a master’s in design from Harvard University. She co-founded the Harvard Indigenous Design Collective to promote Indigenous communities in design. She currently serves as an artist mentor for MFA in the Institute of American Indian Arts studio arts program.
