Original Painting of Two American Bison by Pop Chalee [R]

Paintings by Pop Chalee, or “Blue Flower,” can be seen today in Downtown Albuquerque on the fabulous mural at Maisel’s Gallery on Central Avenue. Completed in 1939, this mural was a collaboration of artists Harrison Begay, Pablita Velarde, Joe Herrera, Awa Tsireh and Pop Chalee. Even in this early mural, Chalee’s part stands out as being more dream-like and whimsical. Her use of color and line to create a fantasy world was her trademark.

Pop Chalee was born in Castle Rock, Utah, of a Taos Pueblo father and an East Indian Mother. She spent most of her adult life away from the pueblo, most of it in Santa Fe.

She displayed extreme delicacy in drawing and a delightfully imaginative touch in her creations. Highly stylized, though much of her drawing is, charm remains in the exquisite touch of humor and delicacy.

Pop Chalee long ago developed a unique style of painting, which combines Oriental and American Indian motifs. Accused of painting in the “Bambi Style” she explained that it was the other way around—[Walt] Disney Studios painted in her style. At one time Walt Disney visited Santa Fe and unsuccessfully tried to recruit Indian painters to work in his studio. Before returning to California he purchased one of her forest scenes. It was her belief that one of her deer was the inspiration for Bambi. (Seymour 1988).

This exceptional small painting of a pair of bison is beautifully matted and framed in a wood frame. Both painting and frame are in excellent condition. The painting is signed in lower right, but not dated.