Indian Power

Indian Power

1972
Artist
Fritz Scholder, Luiseño, American, 1937-2005
Born: Breckenridge, MN
Work Locations: Santa Fe, NM, Scottsdale, AZ
Culture
Luiseño
Locale
New Mexico Arizona
Country
United States
Object
painting
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Accession Number
2016.125
Credit Line
Gift from Vicki and Kent Logan to the Collection of the Denver Art Museum

Fritz Scholder (Luiseño), Indian Power, 1972. Oil paint on canvas; 68 3/16 x 80 3/16 x 1 3/16 in. Gift from Vicki and Kent Logan to the Collection of the Denver Art Museum, 2016.125. © Estate of Fritz Scholder

Dimensions
height: 68 3/16 in, 173.1963 cm; width: 80 3/16 in, 203.6763 cm; depth: 1 1/2 in, 3.81 cm
Department
Native Arts
Collection
Indigenous Arts of North America

Although Scholder claimed he was not a protest painter, some of his images became symbols of Native empowerment at a time when Native protestors were occupying government sites and calling for changes in federal Indian policy. Posters of this painting were popular in the 1970s among Native people across the country.

Known Provenance
Fritz Scholder, Scottsdale, NM, 1972; Wagon Wheel Gallery (owned by Elaine Horwich), Scottsdale, AZ, 1972; Mr. and Mrs. John Mills Hawn, Vail, CO, about 1972; Christy Frances Hewit Andrews (July 19, 1955 - December 14, 2014), about 1980-81; Estate of William D. Hewit, 2014; consigned Saks Galleries, Denver, CO, 2015; Vicki and Kent Logan, Scottsdale, AZ, 2016; Denver Art Museum, 2016.
Exhibition History
  • “Fritz Scholder"—Wagon Wheel Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, 1972
  • "Fritz Scholder: Indians / Vampir"—Wagon Wheel Galleries (The Art Wagon Galleries), Scottsdale, AZ, 1973, 2/25/1973- 3/13/1973
  • “Fritz Scholder: Major Indian Paintings, 1967-1977”—Wheelwright Museum, Santa Fe, NM, 5/15/1977-7/8/1977
  • Fritz Scholder: Major Indian Paintings: 1967-77. The Wheelwright Museum, Santa Fe, NM. May 15-July 8, 1977.
  • “Super Indian: Fritz Scholder, 1967-1980”—Denver Art Museum, 10/4/2015 - 1/17/2016
  • Phoenix Art Museum, 2/27/2016 - 6/5/2016
  • Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, 6/23/2016 - 9/18/2016
  • “The Western: An Epic in Art and Film” — Denver Art Museum, 5/28/2017 – 9/9/2017
  • “Stampede: Animals in Art” — Denver Art Museum, 9/10/2017

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