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ORIGINAL Pascua Yaqui Tribe Arizona Amado Maurilio Peña Oil Pastel on Pressed Paper
Background on Artist:
Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr. was born in Laredo, Texas in 1943. He pursued his education in art and education at Texas A & I (now Texas A & M Kingsville), where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.
In addition to being an artist, Amado has also dedicated his career to teaching. He has taught in Laredo, Crystal City, and Austin, Texas. Currently, he teaches through the Studio Art League program at Alexander High School in Laredo and serves as an adjunct professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas. His expertise in the field has led him to present at numerous national education conferences.
Amado's passion lies in art, and he has been a successful professional artist for over 30 years. His artwork reflects the strength of a people who face the challenges of life in a rugged environment. He pays homage to Native Americans who have learned to thrive harmoniously in an unforgiving, untamed land.
His artistic inspiration comes from various locations, including Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock, Monument Valley, Enchanted Mesa, Acoma, and Black Mesa. These sites hold a deep historical significance and form an enduring landscape that represents the ancient heritage of Arizona and New Mexico.
Amado's art is characterized by vibrant colors, striking forms, and dynamic compositions. Through his work, he aims to convey his perspective on the land, its people, and their artistic expressions.
Furthermore, Amado Peña is highly esteemed as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. This distinction holds great personal value to him, as he is passionate about promoting public awareness and appreciation for the Tribe, its art, history, and culture.
The Piece Itself:
This piece depicts a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona almost camouflaged within a highly stylized, high vibrancy abstractly mystical background. Amado Peña’s work often highlights the importance of “living in harmony” with one’s environment. “To live amongst the earth in the way meant to be means to live without changing the landscape. We should not be so easily - visible - but rather, we should “blend in” with that of the natural world around us.” (Peña)
The Pascua Yaqui tribe takes great pride in the unforgiving landscape of Arizona they call home. In this stunning work of original art, the Pascua Yaqui tribesman is seen but not seen… present, but not domineeringly so. The focus of the piece is on the mystical world around the Pascua Yaqui tribesman rather than the tribesman himself.
This is a one of one piece that is an example of Peña’s early work (mid ‘90s). The piece was purchased from the Slate Rock Gallery of Cultural Arts and Jewelry in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the mid ‘90s. It is matted, framed (the frame a beautiful dark natural wood) and signed and titled by Amado Peña on the white part of the pressed paper. This piece belonged to that of my father, and while he once knew the title of the work, he can now no longer recall. While Peña’s immediately recognizable signature is clear and legible - the title of the piece is (to my eyes) illegible. Perhaps another pair of eyes could better decipher.
Peña outputs - few - original works, and demand for those original examples (in 2024) is high. A chance to call your own a highly unique, beautifully composed piece by a highly esteemed Native American artisan. In a perfect world, I would be hanging on to this piece - with a looming move across country, however, my wife and I face an insurmountable task of packing, transporting, shipping, etc. In the chaos of the move, I would be left heartsick if this “one of a kind” ended up damaged, lost, etc.
If you have any further questions, or would like to see any additional photos please do not hesitate to reach out in the form of an email. I will get back to you promptly.
Dimensions:
Dimensions of Art: Actual pressed paper within the frame measures about 36 inches tall by 14” across.
Dimensions Overall: (With Frame): 41” in height by 17” across. 1.5” thick.
~If you have any further questions, or would like to see any additional photos, please do not hesitate to reach out in the form of an email. I will get back to you promptly.
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