“Parrot Boy” 1975 by Neil David, Sr. [SOLD]

This mixed-media work by renowned Tewa-Hopi artist Neil David Sr. (1944- ) demonstrates his distinctive modernist Cubist-influenced style combined with traditional Pueblo iconography.

Mixed-Media Elements: Beyond standard paint on canvas, David incorporates physical objects directly into the work. These include real feathers tied with string and beads at the top and bottom of the central figure, as well as a row of genuine olive shell beads or small snail shells along the neckband.

Cubist and Geometric Abstraction: The central figure (representing "Parrot Boy") features a split face — half black with blue markings, half light with distinct facial striping — blending traditional ceremonial face painting with modern geometric composition. The figure holds small ritual items/rattles in hand.

Surrounding details feature rain cloud motifs (kiva- step patterns), celestial/star symbols, directional motifs, and parrot imagery in the lower right. This painting is signed N. David '75 in the lower right corner. 

About the Artist: Neil David, Sr.

Neil David Sr. is a founding member of Artist Hopid, an influential collective formed in 1973 by Hopi artists, including Michael Kabotie and Milland Lomakema, aimed at experimenting with contemporary forms while honoring Hopi spiritual values and iconography. Born in Polacca on First Mesa, he is of Hopi and Tewa descent. He was mentored early on by famed artist Fred Kabotie and is widely celebrated for his paintings, etchings, and Katsina carvings. In 2005, he received the Arizona Indian Living Treasures Award.

Condition: very good condition following repair of two small rips in the canvas.

Provenance: Displayed in the special exhibit Ancestral Symbols, Modern Masterpieces: Documenting the Sacred Narratives and History of the Hopi People at Adobe Gallery for its 50^th Anniversary Landmark Exhibition in Santa Fe, NM, May – October 2026. This painting by Neil David, Sr. "Parrot Boy" 1975 is from a client of Adobe Gallery.

Reference: Broder, Patricia Janis. HOPI PAINTING: THE WORLD OF THE HOPIS, Brandywine Press, New York, 1979

TAGS: Neil Randall David, Sr., Native American Paintings, Katsina dolls, Hopi Pueblo, Native Drawing, Native Painting, Carving, Hopi-Tewa , Bronze, Neil David, Jr.