Alvin Marshall, Alabaster Sculptor

Alvin is a Navajo “Dine” Artist. He was born on the reservation in the four corners area-where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet.

 Alvin entered the Heard Museum’s Native American Art Show in November 1983 and won the “Best Sculptor of the Year” award when he was only twenty-four years old.  “It was a great honor for me to get that award, and I am just thankful to have received it.” Marshall said.  “It made me believe in myself. It told me that I can be as good as anybody in the art world.”

Alvin held his first in-person gallery show in Arizona in February of 1985. Every piece sold. It was at this show that the world-renowned Navajo artist, R.C. Gorman, purchased his first Marshall sculpture.  Gorman’s comment was that “Alvin is a true genius.”

In 1986, Marshall had his first limited edition bronze cast. Subsequently, several Marshall Bronzes were released in limited edition.

In May 1986, Arizona Highways magazine devoted a complete issue to the very best Native American artists in the country and their artwork. Marshall was included in this elite group. He began creating hand-made cast paper wall art in late 1986, which met with an extraordinary response.  Alvin’s major sculpture, “Last Act of Forgiveness,” was selected by the Heard Museum to be viewed by Pope John Paul, when he visited Phoenix in September 1987. The Heard also owns Marshall’s cast paper “Wolf Spirit” as a part of their permanent collection. Also in 1987, Alvin was invited to visit Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as Sculptor-in-Residence. The college owns a Marshall alabaster sculpture in their permanent collection. Alvin Marshall’s artwork has collectors from all over the world.

The Cowboy Artists of America, which was founded in Sedona in 1965, inducted Alvin into their prestigious and exclusive organization in 2023. He is their newest member. This organization seeks to authentically preserve and perpetuate the culture of western life in fine art.