Southwestern Art

Southwestern art is a term that brings to mind Native American Indian pottery or other objects that are handmade and hand-painted from the southwestern part of the country. The beauty of the homeland and great artistic inspiration are beautifully combined while making each object, each of them being signed by the artist. Southwestern art is equally inspired by both the Native American Indian heritage as well as our close neighbor to the southwest: Mexico.

Pottery is a strong focus in southwestern art, being the useful and needed objects of the everyday life. All the pieces have different paintings, representing the beautiful nature sceneries, the horsemen on his horse, the mythical animals, the shadows of the ancestors, the ancient dance, the hunters, elements of the wild life and other natural details. There are collections depicting different scenes beyond time and imagination, from immemorial times with brave ancestors or spirits.

Most of these objects are unique, having different images, hand-painted design and different colors or nuances. Another specific of the Indian pottery is the large usage of wedding vases, being an aspect of the ancient marriage ceremony when a man from the tribe prepared a special potion for the couple, symbolizing the eternal unity and love of the couple. This was at the same time the promise of deep love between the two and it had to be sealed by drinking the potion at the same moment. That is why the wedding vase became the symbol of love and happiness.

The Indian pottery may have different shapes, different images and different color palette used in order to depict the realities and legends of another culture and heritage. Southwestern art means more than the Native American Indian pottery, but it is very well represented by this category, having all the significant motifs and themes specific to that geographic area and culture.

Southwestern art also includes the contemporary southwestern paintings, statues and other artistic objects that have as a source of inspiration the southwestern heritage. All these southwestern elements may change the setting of your house and even the perception or prejudices concerning southwestern art. This style may be easily combined with the rustic or contemporary style, with art deco and other styles. It may be also used in the process of creating an eclectic style with minimal accents, as well as serving as accents in any room of almost any style.