Untitled Pair of Paintings of Cheyenne Indian Portraits [SOLD]

Archie Blackowl (1911-1992) MisTaMooToVa - Flying Hawk was a talented and influential Cheyenne artist who worked in the traditional style for most of his long career. Blackowl, a descendent of Cheyenne chiefs Roman Nose and Crow Necklace, was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was interested in art at a very young age, but did not begin painting seriously until the early 1930s.  He studied a wide variety of subjects at many different educational institutions, and worked a wide variety of jobs, most of which were related in some way to his natural abilities as a painter. While he was active as an artist, he was most often recognized for his skills as a muralist. "Blackowl became aware of art at the age of six when he saw old Red Tooth painting a skin tipi. Encouraged by Woodrow Wilson Crumbo, he began to paint seriously in the early 1930s. During his many years as an artist he maintained his traditional style, portraying accurately the Cheyenne traditions and culture that he experienced in his life.  In his art as in his life he remained faithful to his heritage." (Snodgrass, 1968)

Blackowl’s works, which celebrate Cheyenne life and culture with the detail and accuracy of the very best traditionalists, are included in numerous prestigious private and public collections. These collections include the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.  He exhibited extensively and successfully at Oklahoma’s major museums during his career, and received many awards for his works. Blackowl passed away in Oklahoma in 1992.

This untitled pair of paintings will delight those who appreciate traditional Native American Paintings.  Blackowl’s subjects here are two Cheyenne Indians dressed in ceremonial regalia. Their heads and headwear are the primary focus here.  Each figure’s body is represented by a single line, which protrudes from the back of the neck before curving downward. These lines seem to form shoulders, with the Indians’ headdresses disappearing behind them.  Blackowl used an impressive variety of brilliant colors here, including bright pinks and purples that are not often seen in images of this style. These and a variety of other warm, bright colors contrast sharply but effectively with the beautiful dark blue paper on which they were painted.      

The lower right corner of each painting is signed “A. Blackowl”.  It is clear, particularly when the paintings are positioned so that the faces are turned towards each other, that these pieces were intended by the artist to be displayed as a pair.  They are placed underneath gray mattes and framed identically. Together, these two paintings create an exciting, eye-catching presentation.

Condition: this Untitled Pair of Paintings of Cheyenne Indian Portraits is in original condition

Provenance: From the collection of a Colorado resident. She is a daughter of the Balcomb family, former owners of several art galleries prior to the 1970s.

Recommended Reading:  Highwater, Jamake. Song from the Earth: American Indian Painting, 1976