RICHARD WEST

— SOLD —

Untitled (War Ritual Offering)

Untitled (War Ritual Offering)

Untitled

Untitled

- RICHARD “DICK” WEST (WA-PAH NAH-YAH) -

Southern Cheyenne, 1912-1996

Dick West was a master of flat-style painting, that drew upon the pictorial and narrative aspects of Plains hide painting. Flat style painting frequently portrays tribal dances and histories. His works portrayed Cheyenne culture, as informed by his highly traditional upbringing.

A complete departure from that style was West's Indian Christ series, which were lush, allegorical oil paintings of New Testament stories with Native American figures, set in the Southern Plains. Through this series, West wanted to portray the universality of Jesus.

Although flat-style is what he is best known for, West also painted abstract and highly stylized works in oil, watercolor, tempera, and gouache. He illustrated four books and also sculpted in wood and metal.