Apache Bronze Sculpture titled “Watching the Flock” by Allan Houser [SOLD]

This bronze by legendary Apache artist Allan Houser is titled “Watching the Flock.”  Houser’s subjects here are a shepherd and his dog.  They’re sitting down together, staring straight ahead. The shepard wears a tall, wide-brimmed hat and holds a long cane. He’s huddled within a blanket, sitting peacefully.  His dog rests too, but leans forward just slightly, as if he’s ready to spring into action if needed. It’s a peaceful, beautiful scene that is, as per the artist’s usual, composed with incredible skill.  The bronze itself has an interesting texture and rich, dark color. We always enjoy handling Houser’s works, as each one has its own character. This one is a sweet, appealing snapshot of a young man and his animal, made by one of the most important Native American artists.   It was completed in 1984 in an edition of 100. This is number 27 of 100. 

The bronze is signed, numbered and dated Allan Houser, 27/100, ‘84.

Allan Houser (1914-1994) Haozous was a Chiricahua Apache painter, sculptor, teacher and illustrator whose works are displayed in major museum collections around the world.  Houser was born in 1914 near Fort Sill, Oklahoma and passed away in 1994. A Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, he was the great nephew of the famous Chiricahua warrior Geronimo. At the age of 20 he went to study at the Indian School in Santa Fe under the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn. While he excelled at The Studio, he found it confining and constricting creatively.  Houser went on to become successful as a painter, sculptor and educator.

Today, he is recognized as one of the most successful and accomplished Indian artists of the 20th century.  His works are included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, and many other prestigious institutions.  His many accomplishments include receiving a Guggenheim fellowship and being the first Native American to receive the National Medal of Arts. Through his sculptures, his paintings, and his efforts as an educator, Houser’s voice remains one of the strongest in the world of Native American art.

Condition: this Apache Bronze Sculpture titled "Watching the Flock" by Allan Houser is in  is in excellent condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Illinois who purchased it from Glenn Greene Gallery in Santa Fe in 1994

Recommended Reading: Allan Houser (Ha-o-zous) by Barbara Perlman

Relative Links: Chiricahua Apache, sculpture, drawing, paintings, wood carving, Native art, Allan Houser, Haozous