Phillip Payne was born in Durango, Colorado on April 27,
1987. Soon after, his parents and his brother Ben moved to
Sedona, Arizona where his father Ken Payne opened Mountain
Trails Gallery. Phillip was constantly around art and
artists for those first nine years of his life. At the age
of nine, his family made another move to Chinle, Arizona,
the Heart of the Navajo Reservation.
In Chinle, Phillip alternated between public schooling and
home schooling. His family would also travel as much as
possible to study other artists. Phillip finished his first
piece, named Legend of the Spanish Mustang, at the age of
fifteen then continued his schooling in Tsaile, Arizona
where he furthered his education about the Navajo culture
and the arts. Shortly before he turned 18, his family moved
to Ruidoso, NM where they still reside.
Phillip has many goals as a young artist. One of which will
be to tell the story of the Navajo people in bronze.
However, his main goal is to reach the heart of people, to
create art that he and others can relate to. Phillip studies
closely under his father Ken Payne and works with other
artists such as Ken Rowe as he creates pieces of personal
and historical significance.
For works in progress visit:
www.phillippayne.blogspot.com
