Santa Fe, NM, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Summer Exhibition and Fritz Scholder: Works on Paper, LewAllen Gallery
By Kateri Smith (Blackfoot/Métis/Anatolian Greek descent)
LewAllen Galleries’ summer exhibition, running July 11 to August 30, 2025, offers a poignant tribute to the late Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Salish-Kootenai/Métis/Shoshone, 1940–2025), a show planned before her passing earlier this year. The collection spans monoprints to mixed-media paintings with a notable presence of stark black-and-white works.
Absent in many pieces are the saturated hues Smith is famed for. Instead, monochrome pieces like the monoprint Blue Jay (1996) pulse with movement and surreal undertones. River Dance (1998), in charcoal and colored pastel, bridges the gap between her bold color work and the more restrained palette on view. Together, these pieces create an intimate, contemplative counterpoint to the bustle outside the gallery’s walls, a retreat for longtime admirers and newcomers alike.
Upstairs, continuing earlier exhibitions On Paper and Works on Paper by another late giant of Native art, Fritz Scholder (La Jolla Luiseño, 1937–2005) are shown. While his iconic lithographs are well represented, unexpected treasures await. Tucked away in a corner, the small bronze Another Mystery Woman (1987) reveals Scholder’s skill beyond printmaking, a figure full of character and with a definite air of mystery about her, for those who prefer the familiar, enduring works like Portrait of an American #2 (1973) and Last Indian with American Flag (1975) anchor the display.
In pairing these two towering voices of Native American art, LewAllen offers a summer of reflection that lingers long after you leave the gallery.