Kwani Povi Winder is a Santa Clara Pueblo native artist with a passion for learning and creating. Her paintings are characterized by vibrant colors and loose impressionistic brushstrokes that work to infuse each piece with life. Her subject matters primarily include landscapes and native figures. Kwani calls herself a stay-at-home artist. She does almost all her creating with her daughters at her side, including painting en plein air. She loves the outdoors and takes every opportunity she can to paint and learn under nature-s canopy. She is constantly searching and studying to identify how light and form create beauty.

Kwani’s work is also heavily influenced by her Native American culture. She seeks to preserve, share, and educate about her unique heritage. She seeks to portray the native figure with authenticity and capture the spirit of every individual she paints. Kwani teaches the principles and elements of ART to start with and believes art is a skill that can be learned, regardless of talent. She also teaches about Native Art and the types of materials used. She helps teachers find activities to implement in their classroom.

She says: I never set out to be an artist, and I’m still working at it. Everyday I try to see more and do more with the gift that I have been given. As a Santa Clara Pueblo Indian, I seek to preserve, share and educate others about my unique heritage. Art is my solace: the only light I found in a dark time. I seek to bring light and beauty into other-s lives through my paintings, pottery, and mixed media. How fitting it is that representational art seeks to reveal the color and beauty of light. I am always chasing light.