Brian Vallo

Balance, Acrylic & Crushed Lava on Canvas, 14 x 18", $200

Brian’s Bio:

Brian Vallo (“Phragaiseewa”) is of the Sun Clan and a member of the “Haaku” (Acoma Pueblo) tribe in New Mexico. Brian grew up on the Acoma reservation where he first became introduced to a “western” education by attending the Bureau of Indian Affairs “Day School”. He also spent a significant amount of time with his grandparents and learned the language, values and cultural traditions of his tribal community, values handed down for generations. Brian continues to enjoy and take pleasure in observing the unique Haaku landscape, an environment that has sustained the Pueblo Indian people for millennia. This “life canvas” profoundly influenced Brian’s artistic and professional interests and strengthened his desire to remain close to, and involved with his Pueblo. Brian has nearly 20 years of experience working with tribal communities in areas of historic and cultural preservation, cultural resources management, economic development, and tourism. He voluntarily serves on a number of local, regional, and national Boards focusing on education, cultural preservation, the arts and tourism.

Celebrating the New Moon, SOLD

Brian’s Artist Statement:

“Ba Ba” (Grandmother), observing and providing gentle guidance as I worked with the clay, pigments, wild plants, water, and tin cans weathered by the wind, rain, snow and sun, to create a piece of material culture, in this case, Acoma polychrome pottery.

Hopi Symbols I, Acrylic & Crushed Lava on Canvas, 11 x 14", $175

Observing and helping “Na Na” (Grandfather) with the large sheep herds; planting fields of corn, squash, beans and chili; brain-tanning deer hides for moccasins; and hollowing out the midsection of a rotted cottonwood stump for a drum, all to create a beautiful and meaningful “something”.

Hopi Symbols II, Acrylic & Crushed Lava on Canvas, 11 x 14", $175

A renewed artistic spirit in a very different time; creating with unusual and unfamiliar materials and tools – a network of thoughts, visions, moods, and life experiences translated by my physical movement onto a level, oftentimes smooth and empty surface. Therapeutic and mindful creation; balanced communication for exchange and suitable placement somewhere….some place that is someone else’s. Influenced by many of the past and those of my contemporary being, my art is ever evolving. I am humbled for having been gifted this desire and capacity to transmute my existence and experiences from my own “life canvas” for others.