Honoring the Life and Work of Artist DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo

March 19, 2026 to March 1, 2027

The Millicent Rogers Museum is honored to present Honoring DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo, a special exhibition celebrating the life, artistry, and enduring legacy of DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo.

A Diné and Taos Pueblo artist, DeAnna created work that reflected the cultural significance, aesthetics, and strength of her communities. She graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Spring 2021 with a BFA in Studio Arts and was admitted into IAIA’s inaugural MFA program that same summer.

Pumpkin Harvest, 2021
acrylic on canvas

DeAnna’s work was deeply inspired by her heritage, as well as by the heroic figures of Japanese manga. Through her art, she expressed memory, resilience, and good intentions. Her most recent paintings focused on strong Indigenous women who, in her words, “grind every day for a better community.”

Over the course of her career, DeAnna shared her work widely and was recognized for her artistic vision and talent. She exhibited at the Southwest Association for Indian Arts Market for more than a decade, was named a SITE Santa Fe Scholar, and was recognized as the 2021 Taos Fine Arts Visionary Artist. Her work was exhibited across the country, including at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in 2021. She was also selected as one of a small group of artists invited to paint rooms at the Nativo Lodge as a Heritage artist. In 2021, her first illustrated picture book was published. She posthumously received her MFA from IAIA in 2022.

In 2021, DeAnna was tragically murdered. She is remembered as a dedicated student, a devoted friend, a kind person, and a passionate artist whose creativity knew no bounds. This exhibition honors her memory and seeks to further her legacy through the presentation of her work and story.

Exhibition Programs

Public Opening Reception
Thursday, March 19, 2026
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Join us for a public opening reception to celebrate DeAnna’s life and work with her family, friends, and community.

Exhibition Runs:
March 19, 2026 to March 1, 2027

Supporters

This project would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and collaborators. We extend our sincere thanks to Taos County Lodgers Tax and Taos Pueblo.