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Harry Fonseca, a celebrated Maidu artist, is best known for his innovative approach to Native American contemporary art, blending traditional themes with contemporary aesthetics. Born in 1946 in Sacramento, California, Fonseca was of Nisenan Maidu, Hawaiian, and Portuguese descent. Fonseca’s most iconic depictions are from his ‘Coyote’ series. The artist reimagined the trickster figure from Native American folklore. Coyote transforms into an alter ego for the artist, a playful and subversive character who navigates the complexities of modern day life while maintaining a deep connection to tradition. 

In Coyote Chief with Pink Clouds Fonseca depicts Coyote dressed as a Native American warrior, complete with traditional attire, a war bonnet and rifle - yet incongruously wearing everyday sneakers from the 80's. Fonseca is well known for his infusion of humor to juxtapose both historic and contemporary elements that highlight the very real tension between tradition and contemporary life that Fonseca and his peers experienced daily. At the same time, this push / pull conveys the adaptability and resilience of Native Americans from time immemorial. Through Coyote, Fonseca was able to critique modern society, explore themes of cultural displacement, and illustrate the ongoing transformation of his personal Indigenous identity as well as cultural identity.