Denham Clements (b. 1944, American). "Zuni Deer Dancers" acrylic on canvas, 1998. Signed on the lower right. A remarkable, large-scale painting of five Zuni Deer Dancers by Denham Clements. Clements' presents the dancers as they perform wearing magnificent garments, headdresses, and beaded adornments. According to Clements, this composition was inspired by the photography of George Hight. In Clements' words, "this acrylic on canvas work came as a result of a casual collaboration with the late Albuquerque photographer, George Hight. With a master’s eye for composition, and the patience of Job, he spent years photographing the sacred rituals of the Zuni Pueblo Indians. The many images that George captured through his camera's viewfinder provided a master's catalog that I was blessed to sketch and paint from." A mesmerizing painting that demonstrates Clements' impressive photorealistic technique and serves as a wonderful homage to the Zuni people. Size: 40" L x 50" W (101.6 cm x 127 cm)
George Hight (1923-2010) hailed from Gallup, New Mexico and specialized in photographing the Native Americans of the Four Corners region. He was also an accomplished painter of the Southwest. Denham Clements is best known for his photorealistic paintings of the indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. Clements spent over 10 years in Taos, New Mexico where he created a series of portraits of the "viejos" (the old ones) and later relocated to Albuquerque. Clements' artwork has been exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis; the Albuquerque Museum; US Ambassador's Residence, Lima, Peru; the Tucson Museum of Art; the National Museum of the Marine Corps; as well as collections throughout the US and abroad. In his words, "These good people, the old cowpoke, the Pueblo Indian, the local Hispanic icon, the wily backwoodsman, were nonetheless just ordinary people; but when rendered with such unflinching realism, their personalities, their life’s experiences seemed stamped on each face as if time had stopped for an instant, frozen. Their personal histories became subtly transparent and prompted a dialogue with the viewer, an uncharacteristic trait known to classic photorealism." Clements has honored his subjects in both black and white as well as color palettes - primarily on a large scale as we see in this example.
Provenance: private Denham Clements Collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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#169827
Condition
Excellent overall save minor stains and wear to edges of the canvas that do not impact the imagery on the front of the canvas. The painting is hand signed on the lower right by the artist, wired for suspension, and ready to display.