Original Painting “Taking the Long Way Home” by Anthony Chee Emerson [SOLD]

"Taking the Long Way Home" by Anthony Chee Emerson is a stunning original acrylic painting executed on a full sheet of hot-pressed watercolor paper. The artwork extends to the edges and is clipped into place, creating a striking floating effect within its frame. Signed and dated ‘95 in the lower right corner, this piece exemplifies Emerson's signature style and his deep connection to Navajo cultural storytelling.

The composition features a couple on horseback in profile, a recurring motif in Emerson's work, set against a breathtaking constellation of wild horses. These horses, painted in a cascading transition of yellow, sienna, blue, and green, also appear in profile, their forms outlined in gold. A delicate speckling technique, introduced in Emerson's later work, adds an additional layer of texture, enhancing the painting's depth and movement.

Born in 1963 in the Four Corners region of New Mexico, Anthony Chee Emerson is a self-taught artist whose work masterfully blends traditional Navajo values with a modernist sensibility. His paintings capture the essence of Diné life, honoring family, tradition, and the quiet beauty of everyday moments. A dedicated artist since 1982, he has exhibited annually at the Santa Fe Indian Market and Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial. Today, he continues to create from his home in Farmington, New Mexico, preserving and evolving the artistic narratives of his heritage.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Original Painting "Taking the Long Way Home" by Anthony Chee Emerson is from a collector in Albuquerque.

Recommended Reading:

- American Indian Painting and Sculpture by Patricia Janis Broder

- Navajo Painting by Katherin Chase

TAGS: Diné of the Navajo Nation, Paintings, Anthony Chee Emerson