Al Momaday Untitled Painting of Warrior on Horseback [SOLD]

Kiowa artist Alfred Momaday created this original painting. Momaday was a talented and influential artist who explored a variety of styles and aesthetics during his career. With this piece, he stuck closely to traditional Native painting styles, offering a beautiful depiction of a warrior on horseback. The figures appear in profile, without any additional embellishment beyond the burst of earthy brown tones that appears beneath the horse's feet.

Momaday's figures were rendered beautifully. Careful shading and the inclusion of thoughtfully selected details resulted in visual depth and an admirable level of realism. The horse is white, with smokey gray and black shadows down below, suggesting a midday sun overhead. The brilliant red and orange tones used for the warrior contrast nicely with the neutral and dark tones used elsewhere, highlighting the warrior's strength. This is a remarkable example of Al Momaday's work.

The painting is signed Al Momaday in lower right. It is framed using archival materials in black and white tones, which complement those used for the painting.

Alfred Momaday (1913 - 1981) Haun Toa - War Lance was a notable Kiowa artist and educator. He was educated at Bacone College, the University of New Mexico, and University of California in Los Angeles. From 1942 to 1944, he was in the War Department of the U.S. Corps of Engineers. From 1955 to 1957, he was Director of the All American Indian Days in Sheridan Wyoming, and from 1947 to 1967, was principal and art teacher at the Jemez Pueblo Day School of the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of Interior in New Mexico. He lived in New Mexico from 1947 until he passed away at Jemez Springs in 1981. He was the son of A-ho and Mammedaty - Standing High, and the father of Pulitzer Prize-winning author N. Scott Momaday. He was married to author and poet Natachee Scott Momaday, who was of Kiowa and Cherokee heritage.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Al Momaday Untitled Painting of Warrior on Horseback is from a private California collection

Recommended Reading: Reno, Dawn E. Contemporary Native American Artists, 1995

TAGS: Albuquerque, Kiowa Indian, Jemez Pueblo, Native American Paintings, Alfred Momaday (1913 - 1981) Haun Toa - War Lance