Clifford Beck

Clifford Beck Jr. (January 11, 1946 – October 16, 1995) was a Navajo American painter, illustrator, photographer and educator born in Keams Canyon, Arizona. and is known for his work in oils and pastels, particularly his portraits of older native people.

Early life Beck was the son of Clifford Beck, a tribal councilman, and Ester Yellowhair, a weaver. he grew up on the Navajo indian reservation. Beck was also encouraged in his work by painter R. C. Gorman and shared a show with Patrick Swazo Hinds. He continued to return home for summer, taking various jobs including as an illustrator for the Navajo Times.

In addition to his fine art portraits, Beck contributed illustrations to a number of books for the Navajo Curriculum Center Press, such as Grandfather Stories of the Navajos in 1968. He collaborated on these books with other Navajo artists like Andy Tsinajinnie and Hoke Denetsosie.

Beck had a studio in Flagstaff called Taz, which published some of his works as prints and lithographs. His death followed a long illness. In his last days, he helped develop a retrospective exhibit at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, called A Quiet Pride: The Art of Clifford Beck.