Shonto Begay Painting Titled Midnight Rider 2007

Midnight Rider (2007) by Shonto Begay captures a quiet moment of solitude and resolve, lit only by the glow of the moon. A lone figure wearing a cowboy hat adorned with two feathers walks the edge of a desert highway. He takes one final drag from his cigarette, the ember barely warming the otherwise cool expanse of the night. Though alone, he moves through familiar terrain in the vast, open stretch of the American Southwest.

The canvas is bathed in pale blue moonlight, giving it an otherworldly calm. Only the traveler's face, softly illuminated, offers a note of warmth within the cool tones. His posture suggests a pause, perhaps preparing to signal the next passing car, hopefully, just over the horizon. It is a moment suspended in time, filled with anticipation and quiet endurance.

As a Diné artist from the Navajo Nation, Shonto Begay channels deep cultural and personal experience into his work. While he is widely celebrated for his painting, his voice also reaches audiences through writing, illustration, and public speaking. Midnight Rider reflects the introspection, storytelling, and sense of place that define his artistic vision.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Shonto Begay Painting Titled Midnight Rider 2007 is from a collector in Albuquerque.

Recommended Reading: Shonto Begay - His Life and Work by Hanna Lieff, 2004

TAGS: drawing, painting, Diné of the Navajo Nation, Shonto Begay