Sioux Indian Museum, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Anderson Benally is widely known for his depiction of the American Indian in what he calls a natural setting, colored with a deep historic view.   His art reflects his close ties to the Native American spiritual experience.  The impressionistic landscapes and mix of realistic and surrealistic images are filled with mystical dreams.  Primarily a painter Benally said the common theme that surfaces in his work is man’s connection to and man’s dependence on the environment.  The paintings most often illustrate wintertime scenes, symbolizing the harsh, difficult times human beings experience, and yet emote a quietness and at times solitude.

For more information on the artist featured on this page, please contact Sioux Indian Museum montileaux@journeymuseum.org.