Tyler Polelonema Hopi Painting “Cloud Blowers” [SOLD]

Tyler Polelonema (b. 1940) Duyauestewa (meaning "Bluebird") created this original painting in 1971 titled Cloud Blowers. At first glance, one would assume that the three men are smoking pipes, but in reality, they are creating clouds. The painting depicts pipes (known as cloud blowers or o-mou-m-pi) and they are central ritual objects that serve as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. As a Hopi artist and a member of the "Hopi Modernist" movement Polelonema depicted these ceremonies with a mix of cultural precision and artistic stylization.

The Pipe as a Rain-Making Tool

In Hopi cosmology, the smoke emitted from these tubular pipes is not merely symbolic; it is considered mimetic magic. The thick, white puffs of smoke blown from the pipe are intended to represent — and thus summon — rain clouds (omau).  By blowing the smoke, the ritual participants (often medicine men or members of specific societies) are sending their prayers and "breath" upward to the spirits to ensure a successful harvest and the survival of the village.

Ritual Purity and Tobacco

The pipes depicted are typically tubular (conical) rather than the L-shaped pipes often seen in Plains Indian cultures.  The pipes are used to smoke Nicotiana attenuata (wild tobacco), which is considered a sacred plant. The act of smoking is a solemn, prayerful process rather than a recreational one.

Connection to the Ancestors

The "cloud blowers" also represent a connection to the Cloud People (the ancestors). When a person passes away in Hopi belief, they are thought to become "cloud beings" who return to bring rain to their living descendants. The smoke from the pipes acts as a communication line, "feeding" the ancestors and signaling that the community is ready for their blessing in the form of moisture.

Context of the Painting

Polelonema's work was groundbreaking because it moved away from the "scientific" or "tourist" gaze, providing an insider's view of Hopi life. In Cloud Blowers, the repetitive, rhythmic posture of the figures and the stylized smoke trails emphasize the collective discipline required to maintain the balance of nature.

Condition: very good condition. 

Provenance: this Tyler Polelonema Hopi Painting "Cloud Blowers" is from a client of Adobe Gallery. Displayed in Special Exhibit: Ancestral Symbols, Modern Masterpieces: Documenting the Sacred Narratives and History of the Hopi People at Adobe Gallery for its 50th Anniversary Celebration Santa Fe, NM, May 2026.

Reference: Broder, Patricia Janis. HOPI PAINTING: THE WORLD OF THE HOPIS, Brandywine Press, New York, 1979

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Native American Painting, Tyler Polelonema