Shonto Begay Painting Titled The Pink Letter 1997

The Pink Letter (1997) by Shonto Begay presents an intimate moment, layered with emotion and memory. According to the consignor, this painting serves as a narrative self-portrait of the artist as a young rancher, pausing to read a letter of appreciation written on pink stationery by a woman in New York who had purchased one of his paintings. Whether or not this story is literal, the piece clearly holds personal significance for Begay.

In the foreground, the young man, dressed in worn leather chaps and a cowboy hat adorned with two feathers, is absorbed in the letter's message. Two companions are present in the background, engaged in their own activities, allowing the reader a quiet moment of reflection. The brushwork, composed of shearling-like lines, builds movement and texture throughout the scene, echoing the emotional undercurrent stirred by the words on the page.

Begay's education at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and the California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC), combined with his early years as a park ranger, shaped his deeply observational style. In The Pink Letter, his distinctive approach brings together the poetic and the personal, celebrating the beauty of a fleeting but meaningful moment.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Shonto Begay Painting Titled The Pink Letter 1997 is from a collector in Albuquerque.

Recommended Reading: Shonto Begay - His Life and Work by Hanna Lieff, 2004

TAGS: drawing, painting, Diné of the Navajo Nation, Shonto Begay