Ingmars Lindbergs
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Property of a Private Beverly Hills Collector, Lots 60-61
Lot 60TP,W
A Tony Abeyta painting, "Shield Dancers," 1991
Amended
1 May 2020, 10:00 PDT
Los AngelesSold for US$11,325 inc. premium
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Kim Jarand
Specialist, Head of Sale
Tony Abeyta
Navajo, (b. 1965), "Shield Dancers," 1991, mixed media composition comprising one large central canvas and 30 surrounding canvases in acrylic, oil, sand and gold leaf, signed and dated lower right.
height 96 1/2in, width 144 1/2in
height 96 1/2in, width 144 1/2in
Footnotes
In an undated letter to the collector concerning the work, the artist writes, "The central figure is representative of the sun and day, and therefore generates the lightest area of the canvas. Each shield is taken from an Anasazi shield motif found on pottery, Kiva murals, and rock paintings. I tried to portray a dance where these shields were the active subject matter... on each side of the centralized sun shield are two figures representing animals, a ram and a buffalo, animals personified by their hunters. They stand amongst the space of darkness context[ualized] by the surrounding canvas which activate the whole painting with abstractions, colors... and smaller shields." The letter accompanies the lot.
Provenance
Purchased directly from the artist, February, 1992; the handwritten bill of sale accompanies the lot
Commenting on this painting in the present day, the artist writes:
"The painting "Shield Dancers" was commissioned by some clients in Southern California in the early 90's. It was in many ways a breakthrough painting for me. They allowed me to do anything I wanted and only specified the dimensions. This was an early time in my career, in my mid 20's, where I was impressionable and the market was dictating so many specifics. The market was strong and I sold out every show in advance, yet I was still struggling with feeling good about my art and my creativity. This was an opportunity to explore textures compositions and mediums without any of the pressures from the marketplace. I had fun and the painting was expressive and liberating. Today, it remains a unique work unlike anything else. I delivered the painting out to the desert and hung it in their home next to a big Tamayo and I was grateful. It gave me the confidence I needed to continue my work unhindered by galleries and clients and decorators who frankly never understood art but had so much power over me. The subjects came out immediately to reveal a world of possibilities. This seminal deity work was to direct me to move into new directions and trust my own creative nature as an artist. It also showed me that there were people out there who trusted me as an artist and believed in me - this continues in my art today."
Tony Abeyta, personal communication March 2020.
Saleroom notices
Commenting on this painting in the present day, the artist writes:
"The painting "Shield Dancers" was commissioned by some clients in Southern California in the early 90's. It was in many ways a breakthrough painting for me. They allowed me to do anything I wanted and only specified the dimensions. This was an early time in my career, in my mid 20's, where I was impressionable and the market was dictating so many specifics. The market was strong and I sold out every show in advance, yet I was still struggling with feeling good about my art and my creativity. This was an opportunity to explore textures compositions and mediums without any of the pressures from the marketplace. I had fun and the painting was expressive and liberating. Today, it remains a unique work unlike anything else. I delivered the painting out to the desert and hung it in their home next to a big Tamayo and I was grateful. It gave me the confidence I needed to continue my work unhindered by galleries and clients and decorators who frankly never understood art but had so much power over me. The subjects came out immediately to reveal a world of possibilities. This seminal deity work was to direct me to move into new directions and trust my own creative nature as an artist. It also showed me that there were people out there who trusted me as an artist and believed in me - this continues in my art today."
Tony Abeyta, personal communication March 2020.
Please note: due to the size of this work, the buyer of this lot will need to retain the services of a third-party shipper; in-house shipping will not be available for this lot.