March 2024 - A transformative mural created by internationally renowned artist, Lucinda “La Morena” Hinojos now graces the rural Utah desert.

Hinojos’ paintings and murals are found in museums and outdoor settings from California, USA to Marseille, France, where the US Embassy selected her to create a seven-story mural. Most recently, Hinojos was selected by the National Football League as the Superbowl LVII Marque Artist, the first Xicana Indigenous woman to be honored with the selection. She is of Apache, Pima and Yaqui decent.

“Working in a small community like Bluff allows you to create art that is deeply meaningful and impactful, while also forging strong connections with the people and cultures that call the area home,” Hinojos said. “It's a fulfilling experience that goes beyond just painting murals; it's about enriching lives and preserving stories for generations to come.”

The mural elevates the cultural importance of southeastern Utah and was created with input from community members and art scholars from nearby Whitehorse High School, many of whom participated in the actual painting of the mural during Lucinda’s residency. The mural features the landscape of southeastern Utah, including the San Juan River. It also transitions from day to night, something Hinojos says was important to the community, which is working to protect its night sky and obtain an International Dark Sky designation. Culturally, the mural includes cliff dwellings, two large-scale Indigenous baskets – one of which is a traditional Diné wedding basket – and a sheepherder with her flock.

The mural, which is located at an old gas station along Highway 191, can be seen by thousands of visitors who pass through Bluff each year, along with local communities in Bluff, the surrounding Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation, and Navajo Nation.

Funding for the mural was provided in part by the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.