Neil David Painting “Squash Maiden”

This painting by Neil David Sr. is a striking example of the mid-20th-century Native American modernism movement of The Artist Hopid. It is signed and dated "Neil David '76" in the lower right corner, placing its creation right during the peak of the influential Artist Hopid movement. 

The painting, titled "Squash Maiden", features a highly stylized, swirling body that strongly evokes the concept of emergence or the passage of life. It is flanked by two prominent profiles rendered in the classic, geometric Artist Hopid style — featuring sharp lines, flat blocks of earthy color, and traditional ceremonial headdresses (including long feathers). This specific piece perfectly captures that collective ethos. It moves away from purely realistic depictions of ceremonies, choosing instead to blend traditional iconography with a stylized, abstract composition. 

The composition centers around deep Hopi spiritual and ancestral themes. In the background, David used a unique spatter-paint or airbrush technique to create a row of silhouetted, feathered forms. These ethereal "shadow" entities symbolize the ever-present Katsinam (Kachinas), spirits, or ancestors who watch over Hopi life and maintain cosmic harmony. 

The figures are framed within a stepped geometric border that mirrors the architectural style of Pueblo kivas and homes. On either side, stylized birds (frequently representing prayer messengers or specific clans) anchor the edges. The bottom border features a traditional geometric motif in turquoise, black, and white, a pattern often seen on Hopi textiles and ceremonial sashes.

In 1972, Neil David Sr., alongside Michael Kabotie and Terrance Talaswayma, co-founded Artist Hopid, a collective of Hopi artists working out of Second Mesa, Arizona. Their mission was groundbreaking: (1) To use contemporary visual art to instill cultural pride and identity among the Hopi. (2) To educate both Native and non-Native audiences about Hopi history, values, and sacred traditions. (3) To interpret traditional Hopi imagery through a distinct, modernized lens. 

While Neil David Sr. eventually became internationally renowned for his detailed cottonwood carvings of Katsina dolls and his humorous, expressive depictions of the Koshare (Hano Tewa) clowns, his 1970s paintings remain highly prized by collectors. They represent a vital historical moment when Hopi artists reclaimed their own narrative, using the canvas to protect, preserve, and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Condition: this Neil David Painting "Squash Maiden" is in very good condition

Provenance: Originally purchased from Hopi Arts & Crafts at Second Mesa, Hopi Reservation, now from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: Hopi Painting: the World of the Hopis by Patricia Janis Broder.

TAGS: Neil Randall David, Sr., Native American Paintings, Katsina dolls, Hopi Pueblo, Native Drawing, Native Painting, Carving, Hopi-Tewa , Bronze, Neil David, Jr.