Original Painting titled "Ancient Ones" by Tony Abeyta [SOLD]

"Ancient Ones" is an original painting by Tony Abeyta, one of the most recognizable names in the world of contemporary Native art. It dates to 1998. By any measure, this is an excellent example of the style and subject matter that Abeyta gravitated toward during the 1990s.

A single Yei figure occupies much of the image, facing the viewer directly. Rectangular elements form a mask and broad shoulders, within which additional geometric shapes form various details and adornments. Abeyta relied mostly on red and turquoise tones, but he augmented those with touches of white and yellow. Texturally, the painting has a lot to offer—each element seems to have received a unique paint application method, resulting in an image that is a pleasure to study from up close or afar.

The painting is signed along the right edge. It is signed, titled, and dated on verso as well (see below). The canvas is gallery wrapped around a wood frame and mounted within a silver frame.

Diné artist Tony Abeyta (b. 1965) is one of the most prominent contemporary Native American painters. Abeyta was educated at Santa Fe's Institute of American Indian Arts, the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, and overseas in Italy and Southern France. His father was Diné painter Narciso Platero Abeyta (1918-1998) Ha So De. Abeyta's works are included in major museums around the world, and he has received many notable awards and accolades for his work. Abeyta lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Berkeley, California.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Original Painting titled "Ancient Ones" by Tony Abeyta is from a private New Mexico collection

Recommended Reading: 100 Artists of the Southwest by Douglas Bullis

TAGS: Navajo Nation, Native American Fine Art, Narciso Platero Abeyta, Tony Abeyta, Elizabeth Abeyta