Original Painting “Song of the Basket Dance People” by Robert Montoya

"Song of the Basket Dance People" is a masterfully composed gouache painting by Robert Montoya, demonstrating a rare blend of technical precision and conceptual depth. Rendered in rich, earthy tones accented with shades of vibrant turquoise, the piece features two superimposed singers, evoking rhythm, ceremony, and layered identity.

What makes this work particularly striking is Montoya's use of implied transparency — a sophisticated visual technique employed by many Modernist painters. Although executed entirely with opaque pigment, the overlapping areas of the figures appear transparent, visually "weaving" the forms together. This innovative method gives the composition a dynamic fluidity and creates an almost spiritual resonance, seamlessly bridging traditional Pueblo imagery with modernist abstraction.

The painting is signed and dated 1983 and includes a ribbon from the SWAIA 62nd Annual Indian Market Santa Fe, where Montoya earned a second-place award for his catagory that same year, 1983. This piece reflects Montoya's mature period, during which he was deeply engaged in fusing Indigenous subject matter with contemporary artistic strategies.

Robert Montoya (b. 1947), known by his Tewa name Soe Khuwa Pin (Fog Mountain), is an esteemed artist from Sandia and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos. The son of renowned artist and educator Gerónima Cruz Montoya and brother of painter Paul Montoya, Robert has carved a distinguished path both as an artist and an architect. Educated at St. Michael's High School in Santa Fe, the University of New Mexico (B.Arch), and the University of Oklahoma (M.A.), Montoya has been a lifelong innovator. His work often reflects a deep reverence for Pueblo traditions, enriched by a modernist aesthetic and architectural precision. Among his many accolades is the prestigious Best of Show award at Santa Fe Indian Market in 1973.

"Song of the Basket Dance People" stands as a compelling example of Montoya's ability to balance cultural heritage with artistic innovation — an evocative, thoughtful, and beautifully executed piece.

Condition: excellent condition with new hinging and acid-free backing

Provenance: This Original Painting "Song of the Basket Dance People" by Robert Montoya is from an estate in Santa Fe.

Recommended Reading:

- The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters by Patrick Lester

- THE WORLDS OF P'OTSÚNÚ Geronima Cruz Montoya of San Juan Pueblo by Jeanne Shutes and Jill Mellick, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque

TAGS: Sandia Pueblo, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Gerónima Cruz Montoya, Paul Montoya, Native American Paintings, Robert Montoya (b. 1947) Soe Khuwa Pin - Fog Mountain