Frank Austin (March 1937 ? March 2, 2017), also called Bahah Zhonie ("Happy Boy" in Navajo ), was an American Navajo painter and textile artist .

Early life and career [ edit ]

Frank Austin was born in Tsegi Canyon, Arizona in March 1937, under the Navajo Salt Clan. ^{[1] [2]} He has exhibited his work across the country, ^[1] and is known for his silkscreen designs and textile paintings. Some of his works are in the permanent collection of institutions including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian . ^[3]

Austin's work included portraits, landscapes, and depictions of wildlife. ^[4] He worked for a time under Lloyd H. New as a textile artist at Kiva Fashion-Creative. ^{[1] [5]} In 1970 he opened a textile business, Nizhonie Fabrics, in Cortez, Colorado , offering hand-printed textiles. ^{[6] [2] [7]}

Personal life and death [ edit ]

Austin was one of eight children of Buck and Martha Smallcanyon Austin. He studied at the Phoenix Indian School , graduating in 1958. ^[1] He then attended Arizona State University and the University of Arizona as the recipient of a Southwest Indian Art Scholarship, as well as a Rockefeller Scholarship. ^[2]

In 1960, Austin married Rose L. Adajie, and they had three children. ^[1] Frank Austin died in Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 2, 2017. ^[2]

External links [ edit ]

• Frank Austin works at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

References [ edit ]

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