Born in 1960 and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dale is Picuris Pueblo and Dine’ (Navajo). He apprenticed under Charles Pratt, metal sculptor, and Bruce LaFountain, stone sculptor from 1987 to 1991.Dale attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe New Mexico in. 1989-1991. Upon his graduation, Dale received the T.C.Cannon Award for artistic and academic excellence.

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Since then, he has won “Best of Division”, “Best of Class”, “Raw Materials Award”, “Creative Excellence in Sculpture”, and many,” 1st place”, ribbons at the Santa Fe Indian Market, “Best of Division,” at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ, several First places at Red Earth, Okla. City, OK, 1st Place at the Eiteljorg Museum, Ind. IN, and many other 1st places at other museum art shows throughout the United States. In 1994, Dale received a Governor’s Award, called the “Allan Houser Award for Artistic Excellence,” from the State of New Mexico, and became a SWAIA Fellowship Award winner.

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In 1995, he won Southwest Association for Indian Affairs commission to create a “Lifetime Achievement Award,“ sculpture to honor the lifetime achievement  of Native American artists.

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Dale taught sculpture at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico  in 1997-98, Dale was inducted into the Indigenous Sculptors Society, an organization of nine elite Native American artists that promote Indigenous stone sculpture in 2002. He currently teaches stone sculpture at the Poeh Arts Center in Pojoaque Pueblo, NM,. He has taught sculpture there for the past thirteen years.

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Dale’s work may be seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the State Capitol, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, & Campus, Hotel Santa Fe, and at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Pojoaque Pueblo. He is in several other prominent public places in the United States, as well as in private collections throughout the United States.

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"I have always challenged myself to leave my fear behind; to go beyond my comfort zone. Spontaneity and simplicity have served me well in the creations of my art."

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Continuity of an ancient Anasazi creative force is being channeled through me to form new symbols of strength and power for the new age we are entering."

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Robert Dale Tsosie

505-660-1010; rdtsosie@plateautel.net

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