Gerald Nailor Untitled Painting of Man on Horseback [SOLD]

This untitled painting was made by Gerald Nailor, an influential early Diné painter. Unfortunately, Nailor passed away at a young age, which makes the quality of his work even more impressive—he was not afforded the luxury of many decades of artistic growth. Today, his paintings rarely appear on the market; when they do, they are claimed quickly by the many collectors who appreciate his work.

This particular piece was likely made early in Nailor's career. It depicts a Diné man on horseback, looking toward a Yei figure in the sky above. The man's face is obscured by the viewer's perspective, but his distinctively Diné clothing is visible. The horse is depicted in stylish detail. Further into the background, clusters of small hills appear. Nailor's palette of earthy browns and grays suits the image perfectly, and his decision to position each figure and element near the center of the image resulted in a strong composition.

The painting is signed Gerald Nailor in lower right. It is framed minimally and tastefully, using a tan matte and a thin wood frame under acrylic.

Gerald Nailor, Sr. (1917-1952) Toh Yah was an influential Diné painter. He was a printmaker, too, founding and operating a print shop called Tewa Enterprises with his Santa Fe Indian School classmate Harrison Begay. Their goal was to make Native American artwork—their own and that of their contemporaries—available to a larger audience. They succeeded in increasing the visibility and availability of Native American artworks. These Tewa prints remain available on the resale market at very low costs, but Nailor's original paintings are rarely available because he lived a very short life. Nailor died tragically at age 35, after being injured while trying to help a woman who was being beaten by her husband. Despite his shortened life, Nailor exhibited his artwork widely and had works featured in many notable publications. He is remembered today as one of the most talented Diné painters.

Condition: excellent condition with no visible issues

Provenance: this Gerald Nailor Untitled Painting of Man on Horseback is from a private New Mexico collection

Recommended Reading: American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn.

TAGS: Santa Fe, Allan Houser, Picuris Pueblo, Diné of the Navajo Nation, Dorothy Dunn, Native American Paintings, Gerald Nailor