About the Artist

  (1914-1994) Allan Houser represented the dominant force in Native American sculpture during the 20th century. Originally a student under Dorothy Dunn’s tutelage at the Santa Fe Indian School, he was primarily concerned with painting. During the 1940’s he chose to investigate his feel for making sculpture. Recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1948 for both painting and for sculpture, his versatility was acknowledged.

In 1976 Houser retired from his career as an influential instructor, in order to devote the majority of his time to producing works of art in his studio outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Allan Houser (Ha-o-zous) is an in-depth volume published in 1987 by Arizona art critic and journalist Barbara Perlman. More recently (2004) Abrams published Allan Houser An American Master (Chiricahua Apache, 1914-1994) by W. Jackson Rushing III.

Allan Houser was the Robert Henri of Native American sculpture. He influenced two generations of Native American sculptors who followed him. He was the dean of Native American sculpture. The new Museum of the American Indian opened in Washington, D.C. in 2004 honoring the work of two monumentally important sculptor/painters: Allan Houser and George Morrison.  Sixty nine examples of Allan Houser’s paintings and sculptures were presented at the new Museum of the American Indian for the duration of one year.

Allan Houser's work continues to receive academic and institutional exposure. His estate works with museums, art galleries and public spaces around the world on ongoing exhibits. Exhibits of Houser's abstract and modernist works at Grounds for Sculpture took place in Hamilton, New Jersey, opening October 2008; while a dual show of his major works at the Heard Museum and the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona was staged in November 2009. In 2008 the Oklahoma History Center held a major exhibition, "Unconquered: Allan Houser and the Legacy of one Apache Family," examining three generations of the Haozous/Houser family.

In 2018 Houser became one of the inductees in the first induction ceremony held by the National Native American Hall of Fame.