De Haven Solimon Chaffins

On the Wings of Hummingbirds

De Haven Solimon Chaffins was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is an enrolled member of the Laguna and Zuni Pueblo. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM, and received an Associate of Fine Arts degree in 1990; in 1995 she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College of Fine Arts, University of New Mexico.

Currently, select pieces are her work are part of a thought-provoking traveling exhibit making its way throughout the United States. The exhibition entitled, "EXPOSURE: Native Art & Political Ecology" is an exhibit supported by the Ford Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, and features Chaffins alongside several other International Indigenous artists.

 In 2017, Chaffins became an advocate for Autism Awareness after her daughter was diagnosed. She is also an advocate for Mental Health & Suicide Awareness. Chaffins is also the Signature Artist for the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence Awards since its inception. Ms. Chaffins imagery is also registered with the United States Department of Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Board, Washington D.C.

De Haven Solimon Chaffins is nominated by the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) to represent the United States.