On May 5 and 6, Santa Fe Art Auction will present its highly-anticipated annual Art of the West sale, featuring roughly 350 lots of historic and contemporary Western and Native American artwork. Examples of Indigenous art comprise roughly 20 percent of the sale and include paintings, silverwork, bronze sculpture and works on paper from 1940 to present day.
Malcolm Furlow (Choctaw, 1946-2023), Charging Bison, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40 in. Estimate: $8/12,000
Among the Native American highlights in the sale is a 40-by-40-inch acrylic painting by Malcolm Furlow (Choctaw, 1946-2023). Charging Bison (est. $8/12,000) is expected to perform well based on the artist’s strength in the market as well as Santa Fe Art Auction’s successful track record with his works. “In 2025, SFAA achieved a record sale of $30,750 for a painting by Furlow titled September Shaman and has regularly sold his work at significantly above estimate,” says SFAA publicist Olivia Sherman. “Bison imagery is particularly poignant in indigenous American history; it remains relatively rare and holds a strong meaningful narrative in the cannon of Western art…Based on [this], the quality of the painting and size of this piece, in addition to market conditions, we believe this is a fair and conservative estimate.”
Navajo silver and turquoise headstall, ca. 1940, silver and turquoise, 16 x 17 x 2¼ in. Estimate: $2/3,000
Also of note is a Diné silver and turquoise headstall (est. $2/3,000) from the early-to-mid 20th century. Often made for trade, headstalls (specialized horse bridles) tended to incorporate many of the same materials and designs found in Diné jewelry. In the present example, we see a central naja, two conchos, bezel set turquoise cabochons, and intricate stamped designs within the silver.
Poteet Victory (Choctaw/Cherokee), Spirit Sentinel, mixed media on canvas 30 x 20 x 1½ in. Estimate: $1/2,000
A mixed media on canvas by contemporary Choctaw/Cherokee artist Poteet Victory is also poised to do well in SFAA’s Art of the West sale. Spirit Sentinel (est. $1/2,000) incorporates a range of media including sand, beads and gold leaf, and is a prime example of Victory’s sculptural and textured style.
Other lots to keep an eye on are Grandmother (est. $1,500/2,000), a 2002 figurative bronze by Hopi sculptor Kim Seyesnem Obrzut; Frank Howell’s (Lakota Sioux) pastel Blue Light, Summer Night (est. $1,200/1,800); and a piece by sculptor Doug Hyde (Assiniboine/Nez Pearce/Chippewa).
Kim Seyesnem Obrzut (Hopi), Grandmother, 2002, bronze, ed. 14/50, 17½ x 7 x 2½ in. Estimate: $1,500/2,500
“This auction will represent a range of both classic and contemporary works by important Native artists, whose work has always been integral to the aesthetic of the American West,” says Sherman. “The market for work by Native American artists has thrived in recent years, and in this year’s Art of the West collectors will be able to find fine Indigenous art at a range of price points.” —
May 5-6, 2026
Art of the West
Santa Fe Art Auction
932 Railfan Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 954-5858, www.santafeartauction.com
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