Original Oil Pastel “Symbols” [SOLD]

For those who have followed the meteoric career of Navajo artist Tony Abeyta, it is obvious that he has passed through a number of painting styles.  His earlier works were more graphic and the later ones more abstract.  This 1985 painting of petroglyph form is entitled “Symbols” and is in a realistic presentation of cave drawings or pictographs.  This was predominately the style of art painted by Abeyta 30 years ago.  It is interesting to see his evolvement from then to now.

This is an oil pastel painting on paper and the area that appears to be a cream mat board is actually part of the artist paper.  Abeyta framed his painted images by encircling it with a black line around all four sides, leaving about 2 inches of paper to appear as a mat.  The pictographic images include a male and female humans, rams, a bird, corn plants, dragonflies, centipede, a sun and moon.  It is signed in lower right and dated 1985 in lower left.  Title and medium are written on verso in artist’s hand.

Condition: appears to be in original condition

Recommended Reading:  100 Artists of the Southwest by Douglas Bullis

Provenance: from the collection of Marvin and Betty Rubin