Chip Thomas Wins $800,000 MacArthur Fellowship for Navajo Murals
Chip Thomas, an artist from Arizona, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 MacArthur Fellowship, which includes an $800,000 "Genius Grant" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. This fellowship recognizes individuals who exhibit remarkable creativity and independence. Over his 36-year tenure as a primary care physician on the Navajo Nation, Thomas has created large-scale murals depicting Navajo individuals on derelict buildings. His artwork tackles themes such as the impacts of colonial violence and health challenges related to uranium mining. In 2012, he initiated the Painted Desert Project, which invites street artists to the Navajo Nation, aiming to highlight community beauty and spark interest in Indigenous narratives.
Key facts
- Chip Thomas was named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow and awarded $800,000.
- The grant is paid in quarterly installments over five years with no spending restrictions.
- Thomas is a primary care physician with a 36-year career on the Navajo Nation.
- His murals depict Navajo people on abandoned buildings, grain silos, and roadside structures.
- Since 2009, his art has addressed colonial violence, environmental damage, missing and murdered Indigenous people, and uranium mining health crises.
- In 2012, he founded the Painted Desert Project, a collaborative residency for street artists.
- The MacArthur Foundation selects roughly 20 to 30 fellows annually across disciplines.
- Thomas describes his art as a form of community care and wellness.
Entities
Artists
- Chip Thomas
Institutions
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Painted Desert Project
Locations
- Arizona
- United States
- Navajo Nation