Paul Pletka
(b.1946)
Born in San Diego and educated at Arizona State University in Phoenix and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Paul Pletka has spent his life painting the subject that most fascinates – Native Americans. In an interview with Art Talka, Pletka said “When I was a youngster and first became enchanted with Indian costume, lore and artifacts, I would sometimes pretend I was an Indian. I soon realized that was not intellectually reasonable. I am not an Indian. I am simply an interpreter.”
Despite his humble words, Pletka is regarded by the art world as well as many Native Americans as quite simply – one of the best. His paintings have been exhibited in one-man shows throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas as well as Chicago and New York continuously since 1964. Pletka’s works grace more than 40 private and public art collections including the Albuquerque Art Museum, the Texas Museum of Art and the United States Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C..
Interestingly enough, Pletka has never taken a painting course. His focus in college was printmaking. Through an extensive process of experimentation, he refined his technique and works in a style considered by experts as Neo-Surrealism. His heroic-sized visions of Indian mysticism are distinguished by exacting details that can only be achieved when technique is coupled with dedicated research.
Source: Art Fortune
The Silent Partner
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
Description: Acrylic on Canvas (1999) | Image Size: 24”h x 30”w; Mounted on Stretcher Bars
In this painting of two figures kneeling before a cross in the desert beneath a roiling storm cloud, Paul Pletka captures beautifully the mysticism, spirituality and stark desert beauty of the New Mexico landscape.
The figure to the left of the kneeling man is Dona Sebastiana, the female personification of death who represents and commends mortal souls and even bestows blessings. In Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado she is honored particularly amongst the Los Hermanos Penitentes, the roots of which date back approximately eight hundred years to Spain and Italy where members would practice self-flagellation and other forms of physical torment as penance for their sins. The Penitentes have been in New Mexico for over 400 years and today act predominantly as a charitable and beneficent organization within their communities.
An image of “The Silent Partner” appears in the book entitled “Paul Pletka Imagined Wests”, authored by Amy Scott, Autry Museum, with contributions by Paul Pletka and foreword by James K. Ballinger, former Executive Director of the Phoenix Art Museum, published by University of Oklahoma Press in 2017. It was also featured in the “Paul Pletka: Converging Faiths in the New World” exhibition at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in 2019.
El Encuentro
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
Description: Acrylic on Canvas (1999) | Image Size: 72”h x 72”w; mounted on stretcher bars/unframed
In this large masterwork, an annual Easter ritual practiced by the Penitente, a group known for its strict adherence to decades old traditions, is depicted. Here, the men and women of the church are carrying bultos, three-dimensional wooden sculptures, of Jesus and Mary. At the churchyard, the two groups of mourners approach each other led by the elevated bultos. The Penitente brothers carry the large statue of Jesus; they sing traditional songs and recite prayers while they accompany the condemned son on his sad journey to say goodbye to Mary. At the critical moment of encounter, the bultos are tipped slightly towards each other in a final gesture of farewell.
The artist, Paul Pletka, has a distinctive style that is immediately recognizable. His figures are quite realistic, but often with exaggerated specific elements, such as the hands or face. He is a student of both American Indian history and the traditions of the Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico. “El Encuentro” was purchased from the Riva Yares Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and subsequently loaned in 2019 to the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, also in Santa Fe, for the exhibition entitled “Paul Pletka: Converging Faiths in the New World.”
Mountain Man
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
Description: Lithographic Crayon (1975) | Image Size: 38”h x 25”w; Framed Size: 50 ¾”h x 37 7/8”w
Occasionally when there isn’t a clue regarding a particular piece in the collection, we’ll communicate with the artist. In this instance, we did just that. Paul Pletka indicated that he hadn’t thought about this piece for several years. He recalled, however, that it may have been of a particular mountain man friend. The artist’s wife added that a friend of hers swore he was the most fun boyfriend ever! Case in point, there’s more to the story than meets the eye!
Names were removed to protect the innocent; there will be no kissing and telling here.
Our Lady of Fate
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
Description: Acrylic on Canvas (2000) | Image Size: 24”h x 30”w; Framed Size: 25¼”h x 31 ¼”w
Las Flores Sagradas
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
Description: Acrylic on Canvas (2000)
Danza Mitote
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
Description: Image Size: 60”h x 96”w
The Father is Coming and the Earth Will Shake
Artist: Paul Pletka (b.1946)
