“Cloud Blowers” 1971 by Tyler Polelonema [SOLD]

This painting by Tyler Polelonema (1940-1991) Duyauestewa ("Bluebird") is so masterfully done. 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.

The pipes depicted are typically tubular (conical) rather than the L-shaped pipes often seen in Plains Native American 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.

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. This painting is signed Tyler Polelonema Hopi '71 in the bottom right corner.

About the Artist: Tyler Polelonema

Born in 1940, Tyler Polelonema 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. This 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. Polelonema's work was groundbreaking because it moved away from the scientific or tourist gaze, providing an insider's view of Hopi life. 

Condition: very good condition. 

Provenance: Displayed in the special exhibit Ancestral Symbols, Modern Masterpieces: Documenting the Sacred Narratives and History of the Hopi People at Adobe Gallery for its 50^th Anniversary Landmark Exhibition in Santa Fe, NM, May – October 2026. This painting by Tyler Polelonema "Cloud Blowers" is from a client of Adobe Gallery, and she purchased the artowrk from a gallery in Dallas, Texas.

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

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Native American Painting, Tyler Polelonema