San Juan College Hosts Major Anthony Chee Emerson Retrospective Exhibition

San Juan College’s Henderson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery will open a monthlong exhibition showcasing Anthony Chee Emerson’s 45-year career in painting, illustration and film. Running Jan. 16 through Feb. 13, 2026, "Ma’ii Productions: Celebrating 45 Years of Anthony Chee Emerson’s Painting, Illustration & Film" features both traditional and contemporary pieces that draw on Diné culture, family and storytelling, with an opening reception scheduled for Jan. 16.

The exhibition assembles works that span Emerson’s long practice and underscores his role in regional Indigenous visual storytelling. Of particular local consequence is Emerson’s collaboration with San Juan College’s Digital Arts program on a full-length animated series, a cross-disciplinary project that pairs professional artistic practice with student-led digital production. That collaboration creates hands-on learning opportunities in animation, illustration and film production for college students and signals a growing intersection between cultural heritage work and applied digital media training.

For San Juan County, the exhibition serves both cultural and economic functions. By putting regional Indigenous art on public display on a college campus, the gallery increases community access to Diné narratives presented through contemporary visual media and creates potential foot traffic for downtown Farmington and nearby businesses during the monthlong run. The presence of a multimedia animated project in production also strengthens local pathways for creative employment and skills development in media arts, areas that can attract grant support, partnerships and longer-term cultural projects that benefit the county’s creative economy.

The gallery is open to the public during regular hours and the exhibition is intended to be accessible to residents of all ages. Visitors will be able to view Emerson’s paintings and illustrations alongside material connected to the animated series collaboration, offering a rare look at both finished works and process-driven media. The show also provides educators and community organizations with a resource for programming around Diné storytelling, art history and contemporary indigenous media.

For additional information and details on visiting, contact the Henderson Fine Arts Center directly. The exhibition marks a notable moment for San Juan College and the county at large, blending artistic tradition, student engagement and media innovation in a showcase of Indigenous culture and contemporary creative practice.