I Am a Line of Words: Drawing Identity Across Cultures Diné, Pima, and Italian Visual Languages

Mirra Ashley Keeto (Diné / Akimel O'odham, b.1997) considers herself an occasional artist. She was born on April 13, 1997 in Phoenix, Arizona to Russell Keeto and Christine Notah. Keeto was raised in both urban and reservation environments. She graduated from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Tempe with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Italian in 2025. An avid audiophile, Mirra finds inspiration for her art in the music she listens to, her lived experiences, and the people she has met.

In short: If you want to know about Mirra Keeto, simply look at the surface of my paintings and drawings and me; there I am. There's nothing else behind it.

The artist considers music an important part of the art creation process. Some music that has spoken to her during the creation of these pieces includes The Damned's "I Think I'm Wonderful," from their album Damned But Not Forgotten.

Mirra Ashley Keeto (Diné / Akimel O'odham, nata nel 1997) si considera un'artista occasionale. È nata il 13 aprile 1997 a Phoenix, in Arizona, da Russell Keeto e Christine Notah. Keeto è cresciuta tra ambienti urbani e riserve. Si è laureata presso l'Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts e il College of Liberal Arts and Sciences a Tempe, conseguendo nel 2025 un Bachelor of Arts in Storia dell'Arte e in Italiano. Appassionata di musica, Mirra trova ispirazione per la sua arte nei brani che ascolta, nelle sue esperienze di vita e nelle persone che ha incontrato.

In breve: Se volete conoscere Mirra Keeto, guardate semplicemente la superficie dei miei dipinti e disegni e me stessa; eccomi. Non c'è nient'altro dietro.

Mirra A. Keeto 'o wud Navaho c Akimel O'odham; Ogbad 'o wud Russell Keeto c Christine Notah 'o wud je'e. Mirra 'o masi in 1997, c am ge'eda S-ki:kig am. Mirra 'o ep khiim O:s Ke:k c Ga:e Ki am. E-mascam Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Oitbad am, kam e-nato c bei g Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Italian in 2025. Pi 'o se:l g artist, hekit 'o am halcu o'ohon nanto. Oig e-neid mat hascu o'ohon nato, pi haicu 'o ehsto.

Mat 'o e-vush mo hedai 'o wud Mirra. K e-neid mo hedai 'o wud. Bo e-elid musico 'o am ve:mt c ka'icug g The Damned's "I Think I'm Wonderful", from their album Damned But Not Forgotten. Mo ep ce:gito mat has masma, c hebai e-ge'eda, mo hascuneid c ep s-hoid mant 'o nam g hemachkam. Ko hab s-keg halcu na:to.

I Am a Line of Words explores thematic and stylistic connections between Indigenous and Italian identities. It brings together the artworks of Mirra Keeto to showcase the intersections between text, image, and cultural identity. This exhibition follows close research conducted over Keeto's final semesters as an undergrad and defines her unique artistic approach. Each of her drawings and paintings tells a story of two histories: Indigenous and Italian—from the Duecento to the Post-Colonial—communicating the becoming of the self and evoking captivated journeys that invite the beholder to enrapture, celebrate, and to remember.

I Am a Line of Words esplora i legami tematici e stilistici tra le identità indigene e italiane. La mostra riunisce le opere di Mirra Keeto per mettere in luce le intersezioni tra testo, immagine e identità culturale. L'esposizione nasce da una ricerca approfondita svolta da Keeto durante gli ultimi semestri del suo percorso universitario e riflette il suo approccio artistico unico. Ogni suo disegno e dipinto racconta la storia di due eredità: quella indigena e quella italiana – dal Duecento al presente postcoloniale – comunicando l'evolversi del sé e suscitando viaggi coinvolgenti che invitano l'osservatore a lasciarsi incantare, a celebrare e a ricordare.

Listening was an essential part of Mirra Keeto’s creative process. This playlist features songs that accompanied her while she painted and drew, sounds that shaped her reflections on identity, place, and memory.

Enjoy the music as you explore the exhibition.

Duration: Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters
Location: Labriola National American Indian Data Center, Hayden Library, Arizona State University
Note: Selected pieces will rotate during the semester to showcase the full range of Keeto's work.

For more information about ASU Library's collections and resources, visit lib.asu.edu

Diné: (dih-NEH)
Akimel O'odham: (ah-kee-mel OH-oh-tham)