Albert Lujan facts for kids

Albert Lujan (1892–1948) was an amazing artist from Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. He was also known by his Native American name, Xenaiua, which means "Weasel Arrow." Albert Lujan was famous for his realistic paintings of the Taos Pueblo village and its beautiful landscapes.

The Three Taos Pueblo Painters

Albert Lujan was one of three special artists known as the "Three Taos Pueblo Painters." The other two were Albert Looking Elk and Juan Mirabal. As the Taos art colony grew, these talented men learned how to paint with oil and watercolor. They created artworks that showed their community and daily life from a Native American point of view. Their paintings were featured in an exhibition called "Three Pueblo Painters" at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos in 2003.

Discovering Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo, a historic community in New Mexico.

Taos Pueblo is a very old and special place in New Mexico. It's located in a valley near the Rio Grande river. The Taos Indians have lived here for almost a thousand years! Experts believe the pueblo was built between the years 1000 and 1450 CE. It's considered the oldest community in the United States where people have continuously lived.

The Pueblo buildings are made of adobe (a mix of earth and straw) and can be up to five stories high. Many individual homes share common walls, creating a unique structure. Today, over 1,900 people are part of the Taos Pueblo community. Some live in more modern homes nearby and stay at the Pueblo during colder weather. About 150 people live at the Pueblo all year round.

In 1992, Taos Pueblo was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's one of the most important historical and cultural landmarks in the world, like the Taj Mahal or the Great Pyramids.

For hundreds of years, Pueblo artists painted using natural materials like tempera, clay, and earth colors. They painted on woven textiles, walls, pottery, and animal hides. Albert Lujan, Albert Looking Elk, and Juan Mirabal learned these traditional ways. But they also mastered European painting styles and materials, bringing a new look to their art.

How Albert Lujan Started Painting

Albert Lujan began his adult life as a farmer. He also served as a church deacon. One day, he painted a landscape scene near the church where he was working. A visitor saw his painting, which was done on a scrap piece of wood, and was very impressed! The visitor bought Lujan some art supplies and even purchased some of his first paintings. This encouraged Albert to continue his artistic journey.

Albert Lujan's Art Career

Albert Lujan was mostly self-taught, meaning he learned to paint on his own. He started painting around 1915. Throughout his life, he created more than 2,000 oil and watercolor paintings! His special signature was a drawing of an arrow.

Lujan loved to paint plein air, which means painting outdoors in the open air, often right in the plaza of the Taos Pueblo. Sometimes, customers would even buy a painting right after watching him create it! The Taos Pueblo village was his only source of inspiration. He painted it in a very realistic style. His paintings were often small, like souvenirs, and sold for a fair price.

While Albert Lujan was painting, his nephew, Bobby Lujan, would perform traditional hoop dances for visitors. Bobby later became a very famous hoop dancer! Albert Lujan's paintings showed the Pueblo village, sometimes with people and sometimes without. His art captured a timeless moment, showing little or no movement, like a snapshot from the past.