Original Painting “Pueblo Ram Dancer” [R]

Gilbert Atencio, from San Ildefonso Pueblo, believed in the traditional Indian ways and his favorite subjects were ceremonies, ceremonial figures, and scenes from Pueblo life. Here he painted a traditional male Ram Dancer as would be seen at a San Ildefonso Pueblo plaza dance.

Much of Atencio’s inspiration for paintings came from stories his aunts told him about their lives. His style varied from the traditional flat style done early in his career, to abstract or semi-abstract paintings done later in his career.

Atencio worked at Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL) most of his adult life as a medical illustrator. It is from this career that he developed his meticulous style and attention to detail. His paintings are flawless. Because of his career, he did not produce a large amount of art until his retirement from LANL.

This painting is signed and dated Gilbert Atencio 58 in lower right. At the time he painted this, he was 28 years old. The painting is beautifully matted with a linen mat that has an inner gold fillet liner and a beautiful dark brown wood frame with gold trim.

An excellent companion piece to this one is the Pueblo Deer Dancer (item number #C2731A).