Original Painting of Eagle Dancers and Drummer

This original painting was created by Thomas Tapia of Tesuque Pueblo. Tapia is a contemporary painter and potter who, with his award-winning works on paper, aspires to keep the traditional Pueblo style alive. He has exhibited annually at Santa Fe Indian Market for many years, often sharing his booth with his grandson, Jalen Martinez.

With this piece, Tapia offered a beautiful depiction of a pueblo Eagle Dance. Two dancers appear, with wings spread wide, facing the viewer directly. In the center and further into the distance, a drummer appears. Tapia's lines are precise, and his colors are bold, bright, and beautiful. The composition is nearly symmetrical, which seems an appropriate way to capture the beauty of this particular dance.

The painting is signed Thomas Tapia and dated 2013 in lower right. It is framed under glare resistant glass in a carved wood frame.

Thomas Tapia is an artist from Tesuque Pueblo. His grandfather was Tomás Vigil, an early Tesuque painter. Tapia was encouraged and mentored by Santa Clara artist Pablita Velarde, who saw and liked Tapia's work at one of his early Santa Fe Indian Market booth exhibitions. Velarde encouraged Tapia to continue working in the traditional "flat" style. He has done so successfully, winning first prize at his first Indian Market, and receiving many other notable awards. Tapia was recently featured in a profile in Native American Art magazine, which featured multiple works and described his process and inspirations in detail.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Original Painting of Eagle Dancers and Drummer is from a private collection

Reference: Thomas Tapia Stays True to Tradition, Native American Art Magazine, April/May 2023

TAGS: NATIVE AMERICAN PAINTINGS, TESUQUE PUEBLO, Thomas Tapia