Fritz Scholder Stone Lithograph titled “Patriotic Indian”

This lithograph, "Patriotic Indian," is a powerful example of the work created by the influential Fritz Scholder (1937-2005) during his highly successful collaboration with the renowned Tamarind Institute.

Fritz Scholder's path to becoming a transformative figure in American art was shaped by a series of key influences. In high school, his teacher, the professional artist Oscar Howe, encouraged Scholder's early experimentation, including a Cubist style. Moving to California in his final high school year, Scholder studied under Wayne Thiebaud, one of the country's leading artists, where he was heavily influenced by Abstract Expressionism. His pivotal move to Santa Fe to teach at the new Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) reinforced his one-quarter Luiseño heritage and set the stage for his groundbreaking series of "Indian" paintings, which challenged romanticized stereotypes.

Scholder's career reached new heights through his association with the Tamarind Institute, America's foremost lithographic workshop. Tamarind moved from Los Angeles to Albuquerque in the summer of 1970, establishing its new facility adjacent to the University of New Mexico campus. Upon its establishment in New Mexico, Tamarind selected Fritz Scholder as its first New Mexico artist to produce lithographs at the new workshop. Lithography was ideally suited to Scholder's bold, expressionistic talents. He went on to have a long, productive, and highly successful career with Tamarind, ultimately producing 92 lithographs and rapidly winning international acclaim for his work in the medium.

This striking single-color lithograph, titled "Patriotic Indian," was completed by Scholder in 1975. It was executed in a small, limited edition of only 50 copies. This particular piece is numbered 39 of 50. The print was expertly rendered on buff Arches paper by master printer Stephen Britko and is published in the authoritative catalog, Fritz Scholder Lithographs.

The piece is framed using all archival materials. The lithograph is floated within a modern blond wood frame, allowing the viewer to appreciate the full extent and deckled edges of the paper.

Condition: Very good condition

Provenance: this Fritz Scholder Stone Lithograph titled "Patriotic Indian" is from the collection of clients from California

Recommended Reading:

- FRITZ SCHOLDER -An Intimate Look Institute of American Indian Arts Museum

- FRITZ SCHOLDER LITHOGRAPHS text by Clinton Adams

TAGS: Fritz Scholder, Luiseño, Native American art, Santa Fe, lithographs, Albuquerque