Courtesy Nocona Burgess
With the annual Native Treasures and Indian Market events looming on the horizon, Indigenous artists from across the board who work hard all year have no doubt kicked into an even higher gear output-wise. For Comanche painter and Santa Fean Nocona Burgess, however, "always prolific" might not be a strong enough term. Burgess' striking portraits of Native faces are a sublime balance between colorfully magnetic and haunting, so we caught up with him ahead of his upcoming opening exhibit at True West Gallery (5 pm Friday May 25. Free. 130 Lincoln Ave., 982-0055), which coincides with Native Treasures. (Alex De Vore)
We know you as a painter, but do you ever dabble in other mediums?
I always kind of joke that I'm a one-trick pony. I paint in acrylic. I just paint. I keep thinking I would like to do more monotypes, but right now I just kind of paint. I can't seem to get enough of it. When it comes to sculptures or 3-D stuff—no way (laughs), I have no mental capacity for that stuff.
Are you excited for the upcoming shows?
I usually do a smaller booth, about an 8-foot table space, for Native Treasures. A lot of stuff that sells at this show is the jewelry and small items; it's a good show in terms of gearing up for the summer. I believe a lot of people wait for Indian Market [to buy], and they can peek. I have some collectors who have multiple pieces. I have one collector in Rhode Island who I think has, like, 14 pieces. It's cool; people are seeing the artwork in their house, some people just really love it and can't get enough. I have multiple collectors who keep buying. I even have collectors who buy my paintings for their friends. There was one guy out of Texas who has bought my paintings for Willie Nelson.
Any surprises coming up with your exhibit or Native Treasures or Indian Market?
Lately I've been doing a lot of abstract—not super-abstract—work. Loose brush strokes and experimenting with a looser style. I tried it last summer for Indian Market and won two ribbons, so it was a good start. I'm going to have a few of those pieces at Native Treasures, too. What I like about Native Treasures is that it's a good way to get eyeballs on the work, see collectors of mine, get their take—see if people are responding. My worst fear is to be painting and in 20 years it looks exactly the same. I always want to push it.
