“Hopi Thunderbird Dance” Painting Signed Peguaki, Dated 1932

During the 1930s, Indigenous artists from Pueblo communities, especially in Taos and Santa Fe, increasingly began exploring new mediums and styles. Blending Pueblo traditions with Western modernism, artists like Awa Tsireh (from San Ildefonso Pueblo) and Harrison Begay (Diné) rose to prominence, creating works that celebrated Indigenous life and spirituality through both realistic and stylized elements.

Though the specific origins of the artist known as "Peguaki" remain unclear, the date on the drawing-1932-places it within an era when many Native American artists embraced the Santa Fe Indian School's "Studio Style." This style encouraged authentic representations of Indigenous life from an insider's viewpoint, contrasting with the romanticized portrayals by non-Indigenous artists at the time.

The title of this artwork represents a Hopi Thunderbird Dance. Like other dance depictions from this period, the artist emphasizes detailed costumes and provides a dual perspective, showing dancers from a front view on the left and a three-quarter view on the right, inviting the viewer into the scene with careful attention to ceremonial attire.

Condition: The painting is in good condition, with minor acid spots and a small hole in the paper at the lower right. It has been mounted on acid-free backing to help prevent deterioration.

Provenance: this "Hopi Thunderbird Dance" Painting Signed Peguaki, Dated 1932 is from a collector in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner

TAGS:  Hopi Pueblo, Native American Paintings, Alfonso Roybal (Awa Tsireh), San Ildefonso Pueblo, Harrison Begay, Diné - Navajo Nation