Paul Speckled Rock Original Acrylic Painting “Pueblo Buffalo” [SOLD]

This acrylic painting is by Award winning Santa Clara Pueblo artist Paul Speckled Rock.  Imbued with rich browns, blacks, reds, greens, and creams—this painting is alive with color. “Pueblo Buffalo” dancer leaps off the painting as the single figure on an outstandingly colored background of oranges.  The central figure is also alive with motion and features raised hands holding a rattle and bow, and one foot lifted off the ground as though he has been caught in the flow of ceremonial dance. 

His buffalo headdress is backed with a plume of colorful feathers, potentially eagle and parrot.  Sprigs of evergreen are banded to the dancer’s biceps and in the hand that holds the bow.  The rattle and buffalo horns are affixed with eagle down feathers.  A red and green ceremonial sash hangs down over an intricate black and yellow Avanyu skirt.  A privileged peek into the sacred ceremonial life of the Pueblo people, this painting is inimitable.  

Paul Speckled Rock [1952 - 2017] Paul Tafoya was from Santa Clara Pueblo.  He was the son of Tonita and Paul Tafoya and the father of Adam Speckled Rock.  Paul won many awards over the years. He made redware and blackware pottery, was noted for bear fetishes, sculptures, and paintings in watercolor, acrylic, and pen and ink. 

In 1973, Paul Speckled Rock made the decision to pursue painting full time. As a self-taught artist, Paul progressed from his early watercolors to bright and bold acrylics. Paul chose then to depict the colorful Pueblo Indian dancers or to create striking geometric designs from traditional symbols in his paintings.

In addition to pursuing his art career, Paul was the owner of the Merrock Galeria, which was in Santa Clara Pueblo. Paul and his wife Mercedes opened the galleria in 1984, and featured works by various pueblo artists, not only from Santa Clara Pueblo but also from other pueblos in the American Southwest.  The Merrock Galeria was frequently a stop on group tours of New Mexico, and Paul enjoyed discussing the artwork and the various creative techniques involved with tour members.

Condition: this scrylic painting is in original condition

Provenance: this Paul Speckled Rock Original Acrylic Painting "Pueblo Buffalo" is from the estate of the father of a client of Adobe Gallery 

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies, c. 1800-present by Gregory Schaaf

Relative Links: Santa Clara Pueblo, Adam Speckled Rock, Native American Paintings, Paul Speckled Rock, Santa Clara Pueblo Artist