Gilmore Scott was just short of finishing his art degree at Utah State University when he began a career as a wildland firefighter. For 9 years he worked with the U.S. Forest service fighting the West’s wildfires, protecting the land he loves. Since 2010, he has returned to his artwork, depicting that land in vibrant colors with watercolors, acrylics and color pencils.

“My images and subjects are interpretations of how I view my culture, my Diné  (Navajo) heritage,” Scott says. “My subjects are the high, southwest desert landscapes, traditional baskets, our traditional homes, known as, ‘Hogan.’” You’ll also find the geometric designs the Diné rug weavers are famous for.

“The best thing about 2018 was that our local community here in Montezuma Creek built a new clinic for our part of the reservation and they used two of my pieces to decorate the interior.”

You can view more of the artist’s work at www.gscott-tru-arts.com.

Best Of (2018) curated by Emily Larsen

Best Of

15 Bytes’ end-of-the-year feature asking Utah artists, “What was the coolest thing that happened to you this year?”