Adobe Gallery Blog

Tonita Vigil Peña (1893-1949) Quah Ah moved from San Ildefonso Pueblo to Cochiti Pueblo when her mother passed away.  She was only 12 years old at the time and she then lived with her aunt and uncle until she married at age 15.  She lived at Cochiti for the remainder of her life and passed away in 1949.

By the time Tonita was 25 years old, she was a successful easel artist, and her work was being shown in museum exhibitions and in commercial art galleries in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. She painted what she knew best - scenes of life at the pueblo - mostly ceremonial dances and everyday events. She is still considered one of the best female Indian artists of all time.

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