"Painting of Mixed Elements" by Milland Lomakema [SOLD]

Though painted in 1967, six years before the formal establishment of the groundbreaking Artist Hopid collective in 1973, this piece perfectly captures the early stylistic shifts that Milland Lomakema (1941-2021) Dawakema ("Sun Making Tracks"). During the mid-20th century, traditional Native American painting was heavily dominated by the flat, naturalistic figures on plain white backgrounds favored by the Santa Fe Studio Style.

Lomakema and the other members of Artist Hopid (including Michael Kabotie, Delbridge Honanie, Terrance Talaswaima, and Neil David Sr.) revolutionized modern Hopi art. They began utilizing the entire canvas, incorporating bright blocks of color, heavy geometric layouts, and modernist abstraction influenced by Cubism and Surrealism, while remaining deeply anchored in their cultural traditions.

Visual & Symbolic Analysis: True to Lomakema's mid-century aesthetic, this painting is packed with vital Hopi spiritual iconography and elements of the natural world:

The Serpent (Water & Lightning): The curved, stylized serpent-like form sweeping across the lower right is a powerful symbol associated with water, rain, and the life-giving flow of moisture.

Footprints & Arrows (The Journey): The central medallion containing white footprints and directional arrows signifies movement, migration, and the continuous spiritual journey of the Hopi people.

Rain & Cloud Imagery: The geometric, stepped formations (representing kiva steps or cloud altars) and vertical and horizontal stripes mimic falling rain, lightning, and the essential elemental forces required to nourish the arid Southwestern landscape.

Ceremonial Elements: The feather patterns, geometric division of space, and star-filled night sky on the right create a visual narrative that bridges the physical world with Hopi ceremonial and spiritual life.

Condition: very good condition

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 Milland Lomakema "Painting of Mixed Elements" 1967 is from a client of Adobe Gallery. 

Reference: Broder, Patricia Janis. Hopi Painting: The World of the Hopis, Brandywine Press, New York. 1978

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Michael Kabotie, Terrance Talaswaima, Neil David, Sr., Native American Painting, Milland Lomakema