Nena Howell (Walton) is a contemporary Tlingit oil painter whose work explores themes of abundance, wellness, and stewardship. Drawing inspiration from her ancestral heritage and the natural world, Howell creates figurative canvases that blend traditional Tlingit formline art with abstract expressionism. Her paintings evoke a sense of connection between people and nature, reflecting a deep respect for the environment and the wisdom of her ancestors.
Influenced by her late Tlingit grandfather, Rudolph Walton, a master artist and carver from Sitka, Howell also finds inspiration in the work of contemporary Tlingit artists such as David Boxley, Sr., and James Johnson, as well as renowned abstract and figurative artists like Lee Krasner, Richard Schmid, Jeffrey T. Larson, and Alice Neel. After a successful career in business and marketing, Howell dedicated herself to art and cultural art wellness in 2020.
She has studied at the University of Alaska, University of Washington, Seattle's Gage Academy of Art, Wenatchee College, Sedona Art Center, and Pacific Art League, and has taken courses with prominent artists including David A. Boxley Sr., David Laffel, Nancy Taylor Stonington, Andy Thomas, Kai Lun Qu, and Lonnie Zarem.
Howell’s work has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions, including the In the Spirit Exhibition at the WA State History Museum and the National Finalist Interstate Exhibition at Central Washington University. Her work can be found in private collections throughout the United States. She works from her studio in Wenatchee, WA, and is represented by Gallery 110 in Seattle, WA.