My People in the City by Shonto Begay circa 2005 reflects the artist’s need to inject companion Navajo citizens into Manhattan during his residency there spanning roughly 7 years.
Begay shares the human condition of hungering for association with individuals who are more like us than different.
The notion that art made by American Indian artists be limited in subject matter to cliche-ish images of teepees, buffaloes and/ or symbols harkening from petroglyphs represents a kind of art prison you wouldn’t wish on anyone.
The painting above was one of a series Begay treated in the concrete and glass canyons of New York City. My People in the City is available at Mark Sublette’s Gallery, while the artist’s current work can be viewed at West of the Moon Gallery in Flagstaff, AZ; Rare Gallery of Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Modern West Fine Art in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mr. Begay commented earlier today “We are a global family”, lending credence to artist concerns and expressions by-passing any racial, gender and geographic boundaries.
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com
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Hi Corinne… Wow! This is quite a painting. No wonder you were so impressed with it because it wowed me, too.
Thank you again for selling my necklace and I am thrilled to know that it went to a good home. Cheers… Cindy