“Rox’s World” Pueblo Etching by Roxanne Swentzell [SOLD]

This six-panel, limited-edition etching by Santa Clara Pueblo artist Roxanne Swentzell offers an intimate glimpse into her world. Consisting of six individual images — The Canyon, The House, The Fields, The Studio, The Garden, and The Feast — this piece brings together scenes that reflect both personal and cultural narratives.

Although best known for her sculptural work, Swentzell demonstrates her artistic depth in this etching. Each panel is meticulously detailed, capturing the smallest elements within the landscape. Figures appear throughout, such as a woman walking toward The Studio, another tending to The Garden, and dancers in traditional regalia celebrating in The Feast. The intricacy of the plants, animals, and architectural elements encourages deep observation, as each scene holds layers of storytelling.

Each of these six images was initially issued as a single panel before Swentzell ultimately combined them into one complete work, limiting the edition to just six copies. This particular piece is number 6 of 6, signed in the lower right and titled at the bottom center.

Coming from a family of artists, Swentzell began working with clay at a young age, later developing a career centered on figurative sculpture. As her website states, her art explores "the complete spectrum of the human spirit," often highlighting the disconnection between people and their environment. Through her work, she aims to restore this connection, evoking a full range of emotions and experiences.

Born in 1962, Swentzell has dedicated much of her career to creating female figures as a means of fostering balance between male and female power. Humor also plays a vital role in her art. Her journey led her to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and later to the Portland Museum Art School in Oregon. Today, her work is celebrated in institutions such as the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) at the Smithsonian, and the Poeh Center's Tower Gallery in Pojoaque, New Mexico, which is devoted to her pieces.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This "Rox's World" Pueblo Etching by Roxanne Swentzell is from an Adobe Gallery collector.

Recommended Reading: CLAY PEOPLE Pueblo Indian Figurative Traditions by Jonathon Batkin, Wheelwright Museum, 1999 "Roxanne Swentzell" pages 24-31.

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Santa Fe, Pojoaque, Bronze Sculpture, Contemporary Pottery, Roxanne Swentzell