Patrick Swazo Hinds Painting of a Katsina Face

This original painting by Patrick Swazo Hinds is an abstract rendering of a katsina face in gouache on canvas, with a loose, expressive technique. The black horizontal eyes are featured in red and blue cubes, below which is the round mouth in turquoise, white, and black. Above the eyes is the tablita worn by many katsinas. It is a black stepped platform, obliterated on the left by misty blue pigment. Attached to the tablita is a spread of eagle feathers.

The lower half of the painting below the katsina's mouth is a textured section which represents a necklace being worn by the katsina. The white vertical bars remain a mystery.

Swazo's bold approach reflects the influence of mid-century abstraction, a style he embraced alongside his Pueblo heritage. By combining traditional subject matter with a modern visual language, Swazo captured the timeless spirit of ceremony in a way that feels both reverent and contemporary.

Patrick Swazo Hinds (1929-1974), also known as Grey Squirrel, was the most prominent painter from Tesuque Pueblo and a leading figure in mid-20th-century Pueblo art. Born José Patricio Swazo, he was adopted at age nine by Dr. Norman Hinds, a University of California geology professor and honorary member of Tesuque Pueblo. Though raised in California, Swazo returned to Tesuque each summer, maintaining strong ties to his heritage.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Korea, Swazo studied at several institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago and Mexico City College. His work masterfully blended traditional Pueblo themes with modern techniques, reflecting both his Native heritage and formal artistic training. His unique vision earned him wide acclaim and lasting influence.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Patrick Swazo Hinds Painting of a Katsina Face is from a client of adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading:  ART AND INDIAN INDIVIDUALISTS the Art of Seventeen Contemporary Southwestern Artists and Craftsmen by Guy and Doris Monthan

TAGS: NATIVE AMERICAN PAINTINGS, TESUQUE PUEBLO, PRINTS, Patrick Swazo Hinds