Adobe Gallery Blog

Fritz Scholder (1937-2005) was a world-renowned painter, printmaker and sculptor of Luiseño descent.  Trained as an abstract painter, he had little interest in the representational paintings of ceremonial functions that were being made and sold by Native artists.  Anglo-American artists' portrayals of Indian subjects were, in his opinion, a "tremendous visual cliché." Scholder, who at one point had vowed never to create works with Native themes or subject matter, would become one of the most famous and influential figures in the world of Native American art.  

In 1964, Scholder moved to Santa Fe to teach painting at the newly-established Institute of American Indian Arts.  He was surrounded by Native art, and began adding pieces to his personal collection.  He began attending ceremonial functions at the neighboring Pueblos.  Most importantly, he was inspired by the artworks being created by his young Native students.  In 1967, he began creating images of Indians in his own singular style.

In 1969, Scholder signed a contract with Albuquerque's Tamarind Institute to create a portfolio of similarly-themed lithographs. His compositional talents and unique eye for color were well-suited to the unique medium.  Even his earliest attempts at Tamarind were artistic successes.  His Indians Forever suite, completed in 1971, contained depictions of Indians that ranged from nearly traditional to radically innovative. 

#adobegallery #SouthwestIndianPainting #NativeAmericanPainting #Luiseño #PuebloPaintings #SantaFeNM #FineArt #Print #FritzScholder