Rudolph Treas was a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe of New Mexico.  He attended the Santa Fe Indian School for several years then attended the University of Arizona where he continued studying art.  Treas' affiliation with the Mescalero Tribe rather than the western Apache Tribes of Arizona is reflected in his art.   

According to Clara Lee Tanner, "Treas's work can be briefly characterized in a few traits.  He uses flat colors predominantly, occasionally suggesting modeling in lines.  Figures are more often flat portrayals against a blank ground; occasionally there may be a bit of ground suggested in a line or a patch of color."