Abstract Warrior (possibly from 'The Long Riders' or 'The Wind Series')
Painting on stretched canvas • Kevin Red Star (Crow, b. 1943) or in the manner of Kevin Red Star
Style & Movement
Contemporary Native American Art / Magic Realism / Indigenous Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Acrylic on canvas; utilizing wet-on-wet blending for the background, hard-edge line work, and high-impasto palette knife application for the central figure's 'shield'.
Creation Period
Late 20th century to early 21st century (circa 1990-2015)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 30 x 40 inches; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A highly stylized, elongated figure of a Plains Indian warrior mounted on a horse. The figure features a signature crescent moon or horned headdress, carrying a lance and a vibrantly colored shield. The composition uses extreme verticality in the limbs, echoing the surrealist influence of Salvador Dalí but grounded in Crow (Apsáalooke) cultural iconography.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; the canvas appears taut and the pigments remain vibrant with no visible craquelure or fading.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $12,000 (depending on size and authentication)
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $8,000
Provenance History
Acquired as a gift. Typical of works sold through galleries in Santa Fe, NM or Scottsdale, AZ, which specialize in Contemporary Native American Art.
Art Historical Significance
Kevin Red Star is a pivotal figure in contemporary Indigenous art, known for bridging traditional Crow culture with modernist abstraction. This style of 'The Long Rider' became an iconic symbol of the resilience and spiritual presence of the Plains peoples within the modern art canon.
Notable Features
The contrast between the smooth, horizontal 'atmospheric' background and the textured, heavy impasto of the shield is a hallmark of the artist's technique. The calligraphic thinness of the legs serves as a visual metaphor for the ethereal or spirit-like nature of the subject.
Condition Issues
No major issues visible. Minor surface dust; possible slight stretcher bar marks around the perimeter typical of modern canvases.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a climate-controlled environment away from direct UV light. Professional framing with a float frame is recommended to protect edges without compressing the impasto.
Collector Notes
Gift