Neil David “Awatovi Eagle Priest” Painting

This painting by Neil David, Sr. (Hopi-Tewa, b. 1944) represents a pivotal movement in modern Hopi art, showcasing his integration of historic iconography with mid-century abstract composition.

Awatovi Kiva Wall Mural Influence: The composition directly adapts motifs from the 15th-17th century kiva murals excavated at the historic pueblo site of Awatovi on First Mesa. The flat, stylized, and geometric figure format mirrors the pre-contact iconography unearthed during the Peabody Museum excavations of the 1930s.

The central figure — an Awatovi Eagle Priest or ritual participant — holds a sacred tablet (tablita) decorated with geometric designs and eagle feather attachments. To the left, a stylized bird/eagle motif extends downward with intricate polychrome patterning. To the right, a multi-colored arc symbolizes a rainbow band, topped with a stepped cloud/kiva symbol representing life-giving moisture and rain.

Along the lower border, four Medicine Wheel / sacred direction symbols (a circle containing an 'X') structure the visual ground, grounding the ritual action in sacred geography.

Visible in the lower right corner is his classic monogram signature "N DAVID" accompanied by his hand-painted artist cipher. It is dated "'75" (1975), placing its creation during the height of the Artist Hopid movement.

Neil David, Sr. co-founded the Artist Hopid collective in 1973 alongside fellow Hopi artists Michael Kabotie (Lomawywesa), Terrance Talaswaima (Honvantewa), Milland Lomakema (Dawakema), and Delbridge Honanie (Coochsiwukioma). A core mission of Artist Hopid was to study ancient Hopi art — especially the Awatovi kiva murals — and reinterpret these ancestral symbols through contemporary painting to preserve Hopi culture and educate the outside world on its terms.

Paintings from this 1970s period by Neil David, Sr., bridging the gap between ancient kiva mural traditions and modern Native American fine art, are widely recognized as historically important examples of the Hopi artistic renaissance.

"Neil David, Sr. frequently utilizes the style of the Awatovi mural to demonstrate the reemergence in modern art of ancient artistic traditions, which is indicative of the regenerative powers of the Hopi culture.. . . Avatovi Eagle Priest  depicts a guardian of the eagle who is an important intermediary of the Hopis in their prayers for rain for their crops." [Broder 1978:222] This painting is illustrated in Figure 9-9 on page 226 of Broder.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Neil David "Awatovi Eagle Priest" Painting was originally from the collection of J. Cartwright of Santa Fe, now from the collection of 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.