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Joel NakamuraTribescirca 2004
circa 2004
$1,750
£1,315.88
€1,521.56
CA$2,469.73
A$2,679.78
CHF 1,421.58
MX$32,907.55
NOK 17,580.28
SEK 16,648.50
DKK 11,357.83
About the Item
Mixed polymers on hand tooled tin panel. Ready for hanging.
Tribes exemplifies Nakamura’s distinctive ability to merge myth, symbolism, and meticulous craftsmanship into a single, mesmerizing image. Executed on a hand-tooled tin panel, the work presents a fantastical creature—part dragon, part serpent—locked in a dynamic relationship with a vividly patterned mask-like face.
The creature’s body is divided into geometric sections filled with intricate dot and line patterns, echoing both tribal art traditions and Nakamura’s signature stylization. The background, etched with ghostly human and animal visages, adds layers of narrative, suggesting ancestral spirits or collective memory rising behind the central figures. The tin border, hammered and scalloped, frames the work like a sacred retablo, reinforcing its sense of ritual and timelessness.
Joel Nakamura is a Santa Fe–based artist celebrated for his intricate, richly layered artworks that fuse cultural storytelling with a contemporary folk-art sensibility. Known for his bold use of color, precise linework, and densely detailed compositions, Nakamura draws on a wide range of influences—from world mythology and anthropology to pop culture and science fiction. His training as both an illustrator and a fine artist is evident in his visual language: each piece is narrative-driven, packed with symbolic forms, and executed with an almost obsessive craftsmanship. While he has worked across many media, his recent explorations with mixed polymers on hand-tooled tin panels reflect both his technical inventiveness and his deep respect for traditional New Mexican materials.
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