Adobe Gallery Blog

Crescencio Martinez of San Ildefonso was the earliest of the pueblo easel artists.  He passed away in 1918, long before pueblo easel art was recognized as existing.  He was followed by four pueblo young men who essentially constitute the first artists to produce paintings to be sold.  The four were Crescencio's nephew, Awa Tsireh, Hopi artists Fred Kabotie and Otis Polelonema, and Zia Pueblo artist Velino Herrera, Ma Pe Wi.  They became very productive in 1918, feeding off each other's enthusiasm.

Read more about these paintings here.