Original Oil Pastel featuring Two Linked Masks by Joe Maktima [SOLD]

This original oil pastel was created by Hopi and Laguna Pueblo artist Joe Maktima.  In the center of the image, two masks face the viewer directly.  They are linked together seamlessly and presented without attachment to bodies or any other physical forms.  They hover over a background of richly colored rectangular forms, which are surrounded by white framing lines.

The masks contain an intricate pattern of interlocking geometric forms in blue, red, white, and yellow.  Maktima’s pastels allow for unique and appealing textures, which vary slightly within each shape. A rich maroon stands out as the dominant color here, but it wouldn’t make such a strong impression without the contrasting yellows and whites, or the bold blue tones that decorate the masks.  This is a strong image with compelling texture and striking colors.

This piece is signed J. Maktima and dated “1987” in lower right.

Joe Maktima was born in Winslow, Arizona in 1962. He grew up in Flagstaff in a family of artists.  He graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in 1985. Following his graduation, he was awarded the “Most Promising Artist Award” at the Santa Fe Indian Market. He was part of an exhibit in 2012 at IAIA called “50/50: Fifty Artists in Fifty Years.” In 1999, his painting “Evening Star” was chosen for the Santa Fe Indian Market poster. His work can be found in the Eiteljorg Museum in Indiana, as well as numerous galleries worldwide.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Original Oil Pastel featuring Two Linked Masks by Joe Maktima is from the large collection of an Albuquerque family

Recommended Reading: Reno, Dawn E., Contemporary Native American Artists

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Native American Painting, Joe Maktima, Pueblo Painter