Gerald Nailor (Picuris Pueblo)
Gerald Nailor was born and raised at the Pueblo of Picuris in North Central New Mexico. He developed his love for art at an early age, being greatly influenced by his father Gerald Nailor, Sr. (1917-1952), a renowned Navajo painter whose murals decorate the Navajo Council Chambers in Window Rock, Arizona and the Department of the Interior Building in Washington, DC.Gerald attended the Santa Fe Indian School from 1954-1958, where he studied Native American painting under excellent instruction. He painted in all media, preferring oil and watercolor. His work can be viewed at the Millicent Rogers Museum (permanent collection), Taos, New Mexico; Indian Pueblos Cultural Center Museum (permanent collection), Albuquerque, New Mexico; DeVargas Mall (on going skylight project), Santa Fe, New Mexico; Stables Art Gallery, Taos, New Mexico; and with private collectors across the country. His work was a blue ribbon recipient at the Eight Northern Pueblos Art Show at San Ildefonso Pueblo in 1982. His print "Matachines at Picuris" adorns thirty-one of the suites at the Hotel Santa Fe and his painting of "The Picuris Basket Dance" hangs above the front desk at the Hotel Santa Fe.
Gerald Nailor was born and raised at the Pueblo of Picuris in North Central New Mexico. He developed his love for art at an early age, being greatly influenced by his father Gerald Nailor, Sr. (1917-1952), a renowned Navajo painter whose murals decorate the Navajo Council Chambers in Window Rock, Arizona and the Department of the Interior Building in Washington, DC.Gerald attended the Santa Fe Indian School from 1954-1958, where he studied Native American painting under excellent instruction. He painted in all media, preferring oil and watercolor. His work can be viewed at the Millicent Rogers Museum (permanent collection), Taos, New Mexico; Indian Pueblos Cultural Center Museum (permanent collection), Albuquerque, New Mexico; DeVargas Mall (on going skylight project), Santa Fe, New Mexico; Stables Art Gallery, Taos, New Mexico; and with private collectors across the country. His work was a blue ribbon recipient at the Eight Northern Pueblos Art Show at San Ildefonso Pueblo in 1982. His print "Matachines at Picuris" adorns thirty-one of the suites at the Hotel Santa Fe and his painting of "The Picuris Basket Dance" hangs above the front desk at the Hotel Santa Fe.
Amado Peña (Pascua Yaqui)
Amado Peña is recognized as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. This is a particularly high honor and one that he cherishes. He is dedicated to furthering the public's knowledge and interest in the Tribe, its art, its history, and its culture.
His art celebrates the strength of a people who meet the harsh realities of life in an uncompromising land and his work is a tribute to the Native Americans who survive by living in harmony with an adversarial, untamed environment. His artwork is inspired by places such as Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock, Monument Valley, Enchanted Mesa, Acoma, and Black Mesa. These sites are part of an enduring landscape that speaks of the ancient heritage of a region that is now known as Arizona and New Mexico. Amado's artwork is defined by its bold color and form and dynamic composition. Through his art, he communicates his vision of a land, its people and their art.
Amado Peña is recognized as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. This is a particularly high honor and one that he cherishes. He is dedicated to furthering the public's knowledge and interest in the Tribe, its art, its history, and its culture.
His art celebrates the strength of a people who meet the harsh realities of life in an uncompromising land and his work is a tribute to the Native Americans who survive by living in harmony with an adversarial, untamed environment. His artwork is inspired by places such as Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock, Monument Valley, Enchanted Mesa, Acoma, and Black Mesa. These sites are part of an enduring landscape that speaks of the ancient heritage of a region that is now known as Arizona and New Mexico. Amado's artwork is defined by its bold color and form and dynamic composition. Through his art, he communicates his vision of a land, its people and their art.
Kathleen Wall (Jemez Pueblo)
Throughout her formative years, Kathleen Wall considered Pueblo Pottery a basic ingredient in her life. As a young woman she looked on as her grandparents, mother and aunts all made pueblo pottery, and Kathleen followed in their foot steps.
A teenager with strong ambition, Wall tried selling her pottery for money with favorable results. While Kathleen began her artistic journey making storytellers, she knew all along in her heart that she was destined to transcend the traditional art that she was taught. During her late teens, Wall’s works began to take on more figurative qualities. The artist contends that she was “a young girl in the midst of something I had a passion for.” The combination of studies in her chosen discipline and having the opportunity to attend professional art shows opened her eyes to the diverse creativity of contemporary Native art. Upon graduating from IAIA, Wall submitted her first application to the SWAIA Indian Market. The excitement of being accepted was compounded by the fact that she, to her astonishment and delight, also received her first blue ribbon.
Kathleen Wall derives great pleasure and excitement from participating in juried art shows. Her passion for doing art shows is fueled when she can share her creativity and tribal history, which brings an awareness and understanding of Native arts and cultures around the world. Wall is deeply grateful for the success they have afforded her.
Kathleen Wall was more than happy to build on that success and become a respected installation artist in 2009. Reverence for her work is evidenced by the overwhelming response to her first solo show “Celebrating Native Legacies: Works in Clay by Kathleen Wall of Jemez Pueblo” at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The exhibit incorporated multimedia elements to tell two stories—the traditional and the contemporary. It was a pleasure for Wall to be able to express herself through various such as video and photography that she incorporated into her clay installation pieces. Wall’s installation art has added a new dimension and depth to her career, permitting her to explore in different art media and allowing her creativity to be challenged and soar.
"The Native cultures of my family and friends have been my inspiration for years, and I continue to draw on their strengths and their surroundings for my creativity".
Throughout her formative years, Kathleen Wall considered Pueblo Pottery a basic ingredient in her life. As a young woman she looked on as her grandparents, mother and aunts all made pueblo pottery, and Kathleen followed in their foot steps.
A teenager with strong ambition, Wall tried selling her pottery for money with favorable results. While Kathleen began her artistic journey making storytellers, she knew all along in her heart that she was destined to transcend the traditional art that she was taught. During her late teens, Wall’s works began to take on more figurative qualities. The artist contends that she was “a young girl in the midst of something I had a passion for.” The combination of studies in her chosen discipline and having the opportunity to attend professional art shows opened her eyes to the diverse creativity of contemporary Native art. Upon graduating from IAIA, Wall submitted her first application to the SWAIA Indian Market. The excitement of being accepted was compounded by the fact that she, to her astonishment and delight, also received her first blue ribbon.
Kathleen Wall derives great pleasure and excitement from participating in juried art shows. Her passion for doing art shows is fueled when she can share her creativity and tribal history, which brings an awareness and understanding of Native arts and cultures around the world. Wall is deeply grateful for the success they have afforded her.
Kathleen Wall was more than happy to build on that success and become a respected installation artist in 2009. Reverence for her work is evidenced by the overwhelming response to her first solo show “Celebrating Native Legacies: Works in Clay by Kathleen Wall of Jemez Pueblo” at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The exhibit incorporated multimedia elements to tell two stories—the traditional and the contemporary. It was a pleasure for Wall to be able to express herself through various such as video and photography that she incorporated into her clay installation pieces. Wall’s installation art has added a new dimension and depth to her career, permitting her to explore in different art media and allowing her creativity to be challenged and soar.
"The Native cultures of my family and friends have been my inspiration for years, and I continue to draw on their strengths and their surroundings for my creativity".