P'otsúnú Untitled Painting of Birds and Plants [SOLD]

This untitled painting of birds and plants was created by Gerónima Cruz Montoya of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. It is dated 1991. At this time, Montoya—or P'otsúnú, her Tewa name—had been creating wonderful paintings for many years, and her experience is evident in this excellent piece.

Eight birds appear, scattered around the scene. Some fly, others stand still, and others appear to be running or preparing to take flight. Each bird has its own unique characteristics and design patterns. These figures were executed stylishly and confidently, and arranged to form a lively composition. The simple black and white palette used for the figures was augmented with a bright orange background, which varies in opacity and intensity, amplifying the energy of the scene.

The painting is signed P'otsúnú and dated ‘91 in lower right. It is framed under acrylic in a carved wood frame.

Gerónima Cruz Montoya (1915 - 2015) P'otsúnú - White Shell was a painter and educator from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. Montoya attended the Santa Fe Indian School, where she studied under the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn. She would eventually succeed Dunn as the head of the Indian School's art program. Like Dunn, and perhaps because of Dunn's encouragement of her own development, Montoya taught students to paint images with which they were familiar. For these young Native Americans, that meant ceremonial dance scenes, mostly, as well as the occasional hunt or daily ritual image. Montoya's influence was significant, and many of her young students went on to become successful artists.

Montoya also attended the University of New Mexico, Claremont College, and the University of Albuquerque. Alfredo Martinez, Jean Ames, and Kenneth Chapman were some of her notable instructors. She was an excellent painter, of course, though her educational efforts occupied most of her time. Clara Lee Tanner's Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art describes Montoya as a "now and again" painter who was most active and successful during the 1960s. Tanner describes Montoya's skillful dance figure portrayal and Mimbres animal imagery and praises the "simplicity but strength of line" that is characteristic of her work. Montoya passed away in 2015. She remains highly regarded for her efforts as both an artist and educator.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this P'otsúnú Untitled Painting of Birds and Plants is from a private Texas collection

Recommended Reading: THE WORLDS OF P'OTSÚNÚ Geronima Cruz Montoya of San Juan Pueblo by Jeanne Shutes and Jill Mellick, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque

TAGS: Native American Painting, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo – San Juan Pueblo, Robert Montoya, Paul Montoya, Gerónima Cruz Montoya (1915 - 2015) P'otsúnú - White Shell