Mary Holiday Black
Mary Holiday Black | |
|---|---|
Black with two of her baskets in 1995 | |
| Born | Mary Holiday c. 1934 Monument Valley, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | December 13, 2022 |
| Resting place | Monument Valley Community Cemetery |
| Nationality | Navajo Nation, American |
| Style | Navajo weaving, coiled basketry |
| Spouse | Jessie Black (1950s–1994) |
| Children | 11, including Sally Black |
| Awards | National Heritage Fellowship (1995) |
Mary Holiday Black (c. 1934 – December 13, 2022) was a Navajo basket maker and textile weaver from Halchita, Utah. During the 1970s, in response to a long-term decline in Navajo basketry, Black played a key role in the revival of Navajo basket weaving by experimenting with new designs and techniques, pioneering a new style of Navajo baskets known as "story baskets."
In 1995, Black became the first Navajo artist and the first artist from Utah to receive a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her baskets have been featured in collections and exhibitions throughout Utah.