Paintings are the most ancient of the Native American arts, pre-dating their arrival to the new world and used to commemorate and document events such as big hunts, storms, ceremonies, births, and deaths.  Every painting and sculpture tells a story. The first paintings were made about 40,000 years ago and help facilitate oral traditions.

Today many Native American artists express themselves and keep their old traditions alive through painting and sculpture. ‘Painting’ is a generic term to describe artwork when, in fact, there are many mediums used by artists to create their masterpieces; i.e. oil painting, finger painting, acrylics, water colors, lithographs, pen and ink drawings, canvas transfers, and prints.  Here at SouthwestSimplicity you will find a wide selection of original paintings, limited edition art prints, and more that you can add to your personal art collection.

Before the age of the written word, sculptures and paintings were the means of communication sharing the thoughts, desires, and needs of the people with each other. Often they became expressions of hopeful thinking. For example, fertility sculptures were made by those who wished for children. Paintings of water and plants became symbols of a good harvest. The traditions of painting or sculpture drastically changed to fit the needs of the people as tribes made their way to the American Continents becoming more nomadic and spiritual. Painting styles became more stylized and abstract and used as a way to decorate tipis, ghost shirts, pottery, and artifacts. Sculptures were used in religious ceremonies. Totems and kachina dolls were created to depict animal spirits and deities. Each work of Indian Art had to be practical and transportable.

When Native Americans encountered Europeans in the sixteenth century new art forms were developed as they gained more and more interest in giving realistic depictions of Native life. Some Indians adopted new painting and sculpture techniques, but many Indian artists held onto the old traditional, abstract images and symbols preserving them in their art for generations to come.