Fred Begay Jr., of the Navajo nation, is an accomplished sculptor and artist. Although it may not seem important to highlight his heritage, it is important that you know this when seeing his sculpture. He is of Navajo/Ute decent, his father Fred Sr. Navajo/Ute and his mother Navajo. Fred was born on October 12, 1953 in Shiprock NM, the home of his mother, Helen. He was then raised and educated in Albuquerque. Being drafted during the Vietnam war he served in the Coast Guard from 1971-1975.