Mai May Tallwing

About

Mai May Tallwing is a Phoenix-born artist whose work is rooted in prayer, healing, and spiritual connection. Of White Mountain Apache and Irish descent, her paintings reflect a deeply personal journey shaped by love, loss, and the enduring presence of spirit. Each piece serves as both visual expression and storytelling—inviting viewers into moments of reflection, remembrance, and connection. She is the daughter of world-renowned Native American artist Judy Tallwing, and was fortunate to develop her artistic foundation through years of close mentorship and collaboration. This experience instilled not only technical skill across multiple mediums, but also a deep respect for art as a vessel of culture, history, and voice. Her work is profoundly influenced by lived experience, including her time as a caregiver to her elderly father and the passing of her sister. Through these moments, she witnessed the quiet strength of faith and the presence of what she describes as miracles—shaping her artistic path into one centered on healing and spiritual expression. Tallwing’s art also carries the voices of generations. Through stories shared by her great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and extended family, she reflects on the historical and ongoing impact of loss within Native communities. This influence is powerfully expressed in her piece “Missing,” created to bring awareness to Indigenous women and children who have been taken or remain unaccounted for. The work stands as both remembrance and advocacy, contributing to broader awareness efforts connected to the development of the Turquoise Alert system in Arizona. Her artistic contributions extend into public art and community engagement. She served as the featured artist for the Copa Shorts Film Festival from 2017 through 2020, and was selected for the City of Maricopa Art Initiative, where she painted the history of Maricopa on a resin horse sculpture now displayed at City Hall. She was also commissioned to complete a second horse sculpture for the city. Her work has been juried into exhibitions by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and has appeared on the covers of several publications. A multidisciplinary artist, Tallwing works across a wide range of mediums including acrylic, watercolor, airbrush, clay, sculpture, carving, mosaic, and welding. She continues to collaborate artistically with her mother and is currently preparing for a joint exhibition at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. She is also developing a children’s art instruction book to inspire future generations. Deeply rooted in her community, Tallwing has lived in Maricopa, Arizona for nearly two decades. She is an active member of the Maricopa Rotary, Maricopa Chamber of Commerce, Maricopa Lions, and Maricopa Friends of the Arts, where she is also a founding board member. Appointed by the Mayor, she serves on the City of Maricopa Cultural Affairs and Arts Advisory Committee. She is also a creator and long-time coordinator of Kids Day Maricopa, a Health, Safety, and Environmental Awareness event for children now in its 18th year. Through her work, Mai May Tallwing creates space for healing, cultural memory, and awareness. Her paintings are not only images, but vessels of story, spirit, and connection—honoring the past, grounding the present, and offering light forward.