Ryan grew up in Red Valley, Arizona, helping his parents raise cattle and living the ranching lifestyle. During that time, they told him traditional stories and how the Holy People provided guidance to the Diné.

His first exposure to sculpture was as a teenager when he became an apprentice to renowned Navajo sculptor Tim Washburn.

“He set me on the right path of creating sculpture as an art, not as a hobby or a craft,” said Benally. “I saw what he was able to do and it was something I’d never seen before except in books.”

Each of Ryan Benally’s pieces is inspired by a story told to him by his great-grandmother who died in her 90s, but recounted Benally about her life – its hardships, her youth and her loves.

Then Benally dedicated himself to working in art foundries for 24 years, creating sculptures in metal, bronze and stainless steel for other artists, including the Shidoni Foundry and Allan Houser Foundry near Santa Fe.

“I wanted to know how to do every process of fine art foundry work,” he said.

He then met sculptor George Rivera in 2010 and began working with him in creating Rivera’s work.

Seeing what Benally was capable of early on, Rivera commissioned Benally to do a life-size Yei’bi’chei figure.

“That’s when I created a seven-foot Yei’bi’chei in Italian marble, which is on display at Buffalo Thunder,” said Benally.

That sculpture premiered at the 2011 Pojoaque Pueblo Poeh Museum show.

To this day, in addition to creating his own pieces, Benally continues to work with Rivera and numerous other artists to bring their

Benally said that the remaining piece of marble from the large Yei’bi’chei sculpture is what he used to make his winning piece, “Bold for Love,” which carries on the spirit of healing.

“Love is always coming and going, but it’s always infinite and it’s in our hands and our hearts,” said Benally.

“That’s how I thought about the work,” he said. “Whether we’re with someone or not, we still have to love ourselves. We have the love within us.”