Gilbert Benjamin Atencio facts for kids

"San Ildefonso Buffalo Dance," 1967, tempera color painting.

Gilbert Benjamin Atencio, also known as Wah Peen, was a talented artist and leader. His name Wah Peen means "Mountain of the Sacred Wind" in English. He was born in 1930 and lived until 1995. Gilbert Atencio was from the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico. He was a painter, a potter, and even a medical illustrator. He also served as a politician for his community.

Gilbert Atencio's Early Life and Education

Gilbert Atencio was born in 1930 in Greeley, Colorado. His mother, Isabel Montoya, was also a painter. She was a cousin of the famous potter Maria Martinez. Gilbert came from a family of artists. His brothers, Pat Atencio and Tony Atencio, were artists too. His sisters, Helen Gutierrez and Angelita Sanchez, also created art.

Gilbert went to the San Ildefonso Day School. After that, he studied at the Santa Fe Indian School. He finished school there in 1947.

Gilbert Atencio's Career as an Artist and Leader

Gilbert Atencio was well-known for his paintings. He often painted portraits of people. He also showed local ceremonies and customs in his art. His artwork was displayed in many places across the country.

He learned a style of painting called the Studio style. At first, he really liked painting portraits. One of his first successful paintings was of his relatives, Maria and Julian Martinez. Later, his art changed and became different from the Studio style. He was inspired by artists like Fred Kabotie. Gilbert's drawings often showed many figures. He paid close attention to their clothes and features. By the 1930s, he also created abstract or semi-abstract paintings. These paintings showed shapes and colors instead of clear objects.

Besides being an artist, Gilbert Atencio was also a leader. He served as the Governor of the San Ildefonso Pueblo. He held this important role from 1966 to 1967. For some years, he also worked as a medical illustrator. This means he drew pictures for medical books or studies.

Gilbert Atencio's Legacy

Gilbert Atencio passed away on April 6, 1995, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His artwork is still important today. Some of his paintings are kept in major museums. These include the Museum of New Mexico and the National Museum of the American Indian. His art can also be seen at the Gilcrease Museum and the Philbrook Museum of Art.

His paintings were also featured in a book. The book was called Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art. It was written by Clara Lee Tanner in 1957.