Courtney Moyah was born in the Gila River Indian Community and attended the IAIA post-graduate program between 1967 and 1969 focusing on printmaking, poetry, commercial art, jewelry, design, and exhibition arts. He served a year in Vietnam, returning in 1971 and attended universities in Texas and Arizona between 1971-1974. Moyah continued his artist career, while serving his home community of Gila River. To Cry in the Dark is a dynamic, gestural abstraction that expresses the emotions of the artist.