Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1936, Dolona Roberts infuses her artwork with the heritage and traditions of the American Southwest. Roberts studied art at the Colorado College of Fine Art and at the University of New Mexico, where she benefited from studying under renowned artists such as Elaine de Kooning, Kenneth Adams, and Randall Davey. This was also where she was first exposed to abstract expressionism, which she taught herself to combine with tradition Southwestern techniques to create a unique artistic style. Roberts’ trademark images are of Native American women draped in colorful, intricately design blankets bearing unique geometric patterns of Roberts’ creation, no two of which are alike. Describing herself as a “colorist,” it is through using color in unique and expressive ways that Roberts is able to capture the intensity of feeling that her images relate.

These images, with their mystical, symbolic feel and their colorful, intriguing imagery have become very popular in the Southwest and around the world. As a result, Roberts has displayed her art in numerous solo and group exhibitions and competitions and has earned countless accolades and awards. Among these honors are Artist of the Year (1981) from The Santa Fean art magazine, first place at the Arizona Annual Regional Art Exhibit in Phoenix, Arizona (1974), and first place at the Prix de Paris in France (1960), to name just a few. Roberts’ work can also be found in a wide variety of public, private, and corporate collections, such as the Armand Hammer Museum, World College, Oklahoma Cherokee Services, BWA Studio, and Ken Howard Productions.