Born Merina Lujan in Castle Rock, Utah, she had strong ties to the Taos Pueblo, the New Mexico home of her father, Joseph Cruz Lujan. At the Pueblo, she received the name Pop Chalee, which means "Blue Flower" in English. Although, she also spent much time away from the Pueblo, (her mother, Merea Luenberger, was from Utah) the Taos culture had a special life-long influence on her including exposure to the Taos Art Colony painters.

As an artist "she devoted herself to the flat, two-dimensional 'traditional' style of Indian painting", (King) but injected lighthearted imaginary touches that appealed to the wide audience of both adults and children. Many of her works are large and small interior forest scenes with fantas...