Navajo Painting titled “Equestrian Juggler” by Diné Artist Tony Abeyta [SOLD]

C4219C-paint.jpg

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Tony Abeyta, Diné Painter
  • Category: Paintings
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: Mixed media
  • Size:
    7-½” x 8-½” image;
    16” x 17-1⁄8” framed
  • Item # C4219C
  • SOLD

Close up view of the Juggler.

This wonderful piece by Diné artist Tony Abeyta is titled “Equestrian Juggler.”  According to Abeyta, his equestrian juggler is “a conquistador acrobat. He arrived in New Mexico to amaze the Indians with magic but was not well received as an entertainer.”  Abeyta’s juggler is depicted on horseback, arms outstretched, juggling spotted balls. He’s dark and intense, made of black, blue and green; the horse is similarly colored. The hill they stand upon and the background behind them are made of bold, bright colors. The sharp contrast between these disparate groups of tones is what makes this piece so striking.  The image is completed on a small piece of paper. Through the paint, the viewer sees lists of names and numbers handwritten on the paper in an elegant script. This brings to mind Plains Indian ledger art, adding an interesting dimension to the piece. Abeyta’s works often view traditional Native imagery through a new and interesting lens. This piece most definitely does so too, but using imagery that we’ve not seen before in Abeyta’s work.  

“Equestrian Juggler” is presented beautifully, is small in size but powerful in presence.  The paper is mounted on white backing with its edges exposed.  The white backing is signed “Tony Abeyta” and dated 2011, just below the paper’s bottom edge.  It is surrounded by a wide white mat, within an elegant wood frame with a beautiful, almost dark red stain. Its size and framing is identical to that of “Buffalo Conductor,” and we suggest that interested parties consider purchasing the pair and hanging them together.  

Navajo artist Tony Abeyta (1965- ) is one of the most successful contemporary Native American painters. Abeyta was educated at Santa Fe's Institute of American Indian Arts, the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, and overseas in Italy and Southern France. He later returned to school, taking postgraduate classes in art and filmmaking at the Chicago Art Institute. Abeyta works with vast fields of color and texture one might find in Indian imagery, early Navajo (Diné) blanket designs, as well as prehistoric sensibilities of Indian design and earth-toned color. Abeyta's work has predominantly focused on Native American deities such as the Navajo (Diné) Yei-be-chai and Pueblo Kachinas. He shows the importance of these images in Native American religion and culture without literally depicting them. Though best known for his unique landscapes and richly textured mixed media depictions of Navajo Yei figures, Abeyta works comfortably and successfully with a variety of media.


Condition: this Navajo Painting titled "Equestrian Juggler" by Diné Artist Tony Abeyta is in excellent condition

Provenance: from a private collection

Recommended Reading: 100 Artists of the Southwest by Douglas Bullis

Reltive Links: Native American Paintings, Navajo Nation, Tony Abeyta, Ha So De

Artist Signature - Tony Abeyta, Diné Artist

Tony Abeyta, Diné Painter
  • Category: Paintings
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: Mixed media
  • Size:
    7-½” x 8-½” image;
    16” x 17-1⁄8” framed
  • Item # C4219C
  • SOLD

C4219C-paint.jpgC4219C-large.jpg Click on image to view larger.