Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
Allan Houser was a Chiricahua Apache artist who was born in Oklahoma in 1914. He was one of the first Native American artists to create modernist sculptures, paintings, and drawings that reflected his cultural heritage and personal vision. Houser’s work is widely acclaimed and collected by major museums and institutions around the world. He is also recognised as a pioneer and mentor for generations of Native American artists who followed his footsteps.
The Life and Career of Allan Houser
Allan Houser’s original name was Allan Capron Haozous, which means “the sound of pulling roots” in the Apache language. He was the grandson of Geronimo, the famous Apache leader who resisted the US government’s attempts to relocate his tribe to reservations. Houser grew up on a farm near Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where his family was held as prisoners of war until 1913. He learned to draw and carve from his father, who was a silversmith and a painter.
In 1934, Houser left Oklahoma to study at the Santa Fe Indian School in New Mexico, where he learned the traditional style of Native American painting from Dorothy Dunn, a teacher who encouraged her students to depict their own stories and symbols. Houser excelled in this style and soon gained recognition for his paintings and murals. He also developed an interest in sculpture, inspired by the works of European artists such as Henry Moore and Constantin Brâncuși.
In 1940, Houser received a commission from the US Department of the Interior to paint murals for the Main Interior Building in Washington, D.C. He also married Anna Maria Gallegos, a Spanish-American woman from Santa Fe, with whom he had six sons. During World War II, Houser moved to Los Angeles, where he worked in a shipyard and continued to paint and sculpt in his spare time. He also befriended other artists and students at the Pasadena Art Center.
After the war, Houser returned to Santa Fe, where he became a teacher and a leader in the Native American art community. He taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts and the Santa Fe Indian School, where he influenced many young artists, such as Fritz Scholder, T.C. Cannon, and Kevin Red Star. He also received numerous awards and honors, such as the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Medal of Arts, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Museum of the American Indian.
Houser died in 1994 at the age of 80, leaving behind a prolific and diverse body of work that spans more than six decades. His sculptures, paintings, and drawings can be found in public and private collections around the world, such as the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, the British Museum, and the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art.
The Art and Legacy of Allan Houser
Houser’s art is characterised by his unique blend of modernism and Native American aesthetics. He used simple and organic forms, often derived from nature, to express his emotions and ideas. He also experimented with different materials, such as wood, stone, bronze, and steel, to create various textures and effects. His art reflects his Apache heritage, as well as his personal experiences and observations of the world.
Houser’s art is also known for its diversity and versatility. He created sculptures, paintings, and drawings in various genres and styles, such as figurative, abstract, realistic, and symbolic. He explored themes such as family, spirituality, history, and social justice. He also incorporated elements of humor, irony, and fantasy in his work. He was not afraid to challenge stereotypes and conventions, and to express his own voice and vision.
Houser’s art is widely admired and respected for its originality and quality. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential Native American artists of the 20th century, and one of the pioneers of contemporary Native American art. He is also celebrated as a role model and a mentor for many Native American artists who followed his example and inspiration. Houser’s art is a testament to his creativity, talent, and spirit, and a gift to the world.
