Artwork copyright Armond Lara. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Basketmaker, 1984

Armond Lara
(American | Navajo, born 1939)

Location: Western Washington University, Bellingham

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Basketmaker is a collage of basket fibers, masking tape, and handmade paper. It was created by artist Armond Lara (Navajo) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lara describes his Navajo and Mexican history as having an inherent impact on his work and notes, "both myself and my works are re-interpretations of Navajo traditions."

This artwork is part of Beyond Blue Mountains, a collection that was curated by late Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jim Schoppert. It presents the work of Native American artists of diverse heritage, ideas, materials, and styles. The collection takes an in-depth look at the artists’ unique voices and interpretations of tradition.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Department of Corrections.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Armond Lara is a contemporary artist of Navajo and Mexican descent. His artworks often include handmade paper, found objects, and mixed media including traditional Navajo beadwork that is sewn onto the canvas. He creates paintings, collages, fetish objects, and marionettes.

Lara studied at the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Glendale College in California. He also studied at the University of Washington in Seattle where he was influenced by the Northwest artist, Paul Horiuchi. He lived in Seattle for many years during the 1960s and 70s and worked in the aerospace industry and later in arts administration. He helped to establish the 1% for the Arts program in Seattle in 1973. Lara currently lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His art is in many collections in the United States and Europe, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, the Eiteljorg Museum of Western and American Indian Art in Indiana, and more.