Chitto, Randall

Randall Chitto was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, a member of the Mississippi Choctaw Tribe. He grew up in Chicago after his family moved there when he was a toddler. In 1980 he enrolled in the Institute of American Indian Arts, intent on becoming a painter. Instead he met Clay Mother and she took him in a slightly different direction.

First he learned the basics from Hopi potter Otellie Loloma. Then he studied with Fred Pardington. He also continued studying painting and graduated in 1983 with both a Two- and Three-Dimensional Degree in Studio Art. Shortly after that he earned a Fellowship from the Southwest Association for Indian Arts and then a Dubin Fellowship that covered his expenses and allowed him to study at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe for three months.

Randall still paints but he also works in bronze and clay. His works are held in numerous museum collections, including the Denver Art Museum, the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, among others.

Randall has served on boards for several non-profit organizations in Santa Fe and, along with his wife Jackie, co-founded the Santa Fe Indian Center. He has also served as vice-chair of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.

Some Awards Earned by Randall

• 2019 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification V – Sculpture, Division A – Representational Sculpture (Realistic/Stylized), Category 1907 – Clay: First Place
• 2018 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification V – Sculpture, Division A – Representational Sculpture (Realistic/Stylized), Category 1907 – Clay: Second Place
• 2014 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market, Classification II Pottery, Division D – Traditional, native clay, hand built, figurative: First Place. Awarded for artwork: “Moving Camp”
• 2014 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market: Judge’s Award – Mary Ann Igna. Awarded for artwork: “Moving Camp”
• 2014 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market: Judge’s Award – Robert K. Liu, PhD. Awarded for artwork: “Moving Camp”
• 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J -Non-traditional ceramics, all materials, all techniques, with or without decorative elements, any form, any design, Category 1607 – Sets and scenes: Second Place
• 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J -Non-traditional ceramics, all materials, all techniques, with or without decorative elements, any form, any design, Category 1608 – Storytellers: First Place
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional, Category 1408 – Figures (sets of 2 or more pieces): Third Place
• 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1509 – Single figures (animal and other): First Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1514 – Storytellers: Second Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1607 – Sets and scenes (nativities and kiva scenes, etc.): Third Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1608 – Storytellers (non-traditional): First Place
• 1995 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market, Classification VII – Pottery, Division C – Effigies and Representations: Best of Division. Awarded for artwork: “Emergence Story”
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any form, Category 1606 – Single figures: Second Place
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any form, Category 1608 – Storytellers: Second Place
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any form, Category 1611 – Miscellaneous: First Place
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division K – Pottery miniature, Category 1508 – Figures, one piece: First Place
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, Category 1306 – Single figures: First Place
• 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification – Jewelry, Division G – Nontraditional new forms: First Place