Chuck Shepherd was born into the Navajo Nation, the Dine, and lives in Chinle, AZ - raised traditionally back in the beautiful canyon and riverland of the Reservation. Chuck's first experiences of the world outside of Shiprock were Santa Fe and the IAIA [Institute of American Indian Arts], where he studied painting, print-making, and photography. In 1993, Chuck teamed up with his white brother, John Treadwell, and took off an a wild cross-country trip to "discover America" under the guise of catching a few Dead shows to study the newest tribes on the planet.

Most of Chuck's art themes deal with the Horse and its importance and being the center of focus in every day culture - whether farmer, sheepherder, or warror. The small wooden pieces, engraved with ponies - who must run free, yet are caged, surrounded by barbed wire - each a beautiful dichotomy: imprisoned, yet running free.

Chuck still paints, but is mostly consumed with apprenticing to the medicine man - learning the old ways, tending the family sheep, and growing a garden ... Navajo style.