"Untitled Painting of Corn Dancers" 1978 by Milland Lomakema [SOLD]

This painting by Milland Lomakema (1941-2021) Dawakema ("Sun Made") is a significant example of his work from 1978. Lomakema was a founding member of the influential group called Artist Hopid, which sought to reinterpret traditional Hopi symbols through a modern, graphic lens. The painting features four stylized male figures performing a ceremonial dance within a circular frame, likely representing the sun or the cycle of life.

The piece is rich with Hopi iconography. The figures are depicted in the act of a social or Katsina Maiden, known in their culture as Katsina Mana, dance. The bent posture of the rightmost figure suggests the rhythm of the dance and the planting/harvesting motions often associated with Hopi ceremonies.

The yellow, star-like elements atop their heads represent corn tassels or spiritual radiance, emphasizing the connection between the people and the sustenance provided by the earth. The circular border topped with a stylized corn plant/leaf signifies the unity of the Hopi world. The red lines extending from the bottom often represent rain or life-giving moisture descending to the earth. Lomakema used a specific palette of earth tones (terracotta, ochre, and sage) contrasted with bold blacks and whites to create a flat, modernist aesthetic that feels both ancient and contemporary. This painting is signed M Dawakema '78 on the bottom left.

About the Artist: Milland Lomakema

Lomakema was a self-taught artist and a key figure in the 20th-century Native American art movement. Along with Michael Kabotie and others, he founded the group Artist Hopid in 1973 to "document Hopi history through visual arts" and move beyond the "Bambi-style" flat-painting traditionally expected of Native American artists. His work is held in major institutions, including the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Condition: original 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 "Untitled Painting of Corn Dancers" is from a client of Adobe Gallery, purchased at auction in 2014.

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