Artist Statement

Elle Nado comes from the Pueblo of Acoma, having been born to mixed heritage she explores identity through a variety of mediums. Elle’s perspective as an Indigenous woman fuels her work often confronting the conflict between two realities; one an empowering matriarchal society built on tough love and another that’s relies on conforming masses. By communicating through a unique language of chaos and beauty. Elle begins to form bridges between unlikely combinations. Through exploring her surrounding environments and reflecting, she creates a space that allows her to let her voice ring from mesa cliffs.


Elle’s artistic style stems from traditional values, humor, and the vibrancy of mother earth. She uses bold & bright colors to bring focus to her topics. When approaching a canvas, she works through layers to bring the image to the surface. Elle uses painting to explore thought, meaning, and the value of life. From an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (Watchout it’s the Willowaw.) Where the Native characters spoke broken English and only the villain spoke properly. This episode spawned Elle’s motivation to learn more about how important representation is to the communities reflected.

Elle Nado is Acoma, Navajo, and dollop of Spanish.