Description:

FRITZ SCHOLDER (LUISENO-AMERICAN 1937-2005)
Man and Dog, #9, 1992
oil on canvas
77 x 101.5 cm (30 1/4 x 40 in.)
framed dimensions: 81.5 x 106.5 cm (32 x 42 in.)
signed lower right

CONDITION
Observed in frame, the work is in very good condition. UV light inspection showed no signs of retouching.

PROVENANCE
Riva Yares Gallery, New York, NY (label on verso)
Collection of Dr. Abner Delman, Santa Fe, NM, and Sarasota, FL

LOT NOTES
Fritz Scholder remains one of the most influential and collectible Native American artists of the 20th century-celebrated for his radical, unflinching depictions of Indigenous life that defied both stereotype and expectation. With a style that bridged Expressionism, Pop Art, and Realism, Scholder’s work subverted romanticized representations of Native peoples and introduced a new, confrontational visual language to American art. Born in Breckenridge, Minnesota in 1937 and an enrolled member of the Luiseño tribe, Scholder was academically trained in fine art and mentored by notable figures such as Wayne Thiebaud. After studying at Sacramento State University and later earning an MFA from the University of Arizona, he emerged in the 1960s as a leading figure in the so-called “New American Indian Art Movement.” His teaching at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe would spark a generational shift - empowering young Indigenous artists to question colonial aesthetics and assert modern, self-defined identities.
In Man and Dog, #9 (1992), the composition presents a stylized nude figure in motion, lunging forward with an almost mythic sense of purpose, paralleled by a running dog. Both are suspended against a vast, stark field of black and deep ultramarine - a twilight zone where physical form meets psychological depth. The figure, painted in icy whites and blues, evokes ghostly vulnerability, while the dog - rendered with sharp, expressive markings. Characteristic of Scholder’s mature work, the painting employs flat color fields and exaggerated anatomy to heighten emotion and symbolic meaning. Here, the man and the dog become emblems: of pursuit, of survival, of loyalty, of the fragile boundary between civilization and instinct. The minimalist background sharpens the emotional tension between the two figures, focusing the viewer’s attention on movement, gesture, and the charged space between them.
Over the course of his career, Scholder achieved significant critical and commercial success. His works are held in major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Walker Art Center. Solo exhibitions at the National Museum of the American Indian and the Denver Art Museum further cemented his reputation as a transformative cultural figure.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Dr. Abner Joseph Delman, a distinguished cardiologist and dedicated advocate for Holocaust education, passed away at the age of 93.

Born in 1930, Dr. Delman graduated from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, in 1955. He devoted his medical career to the field of cardiovascular disease, practicing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Sarasota, Florida. Beyond his medical practice, he was known for his passion for art, his love of chocolate, and his gentle and generous nature.

Dr. Delman was married for 45 years to Ilse-Lore Delman, a Holocaust survivor who spent three years in hiding during World War II. In 1998, Ilse recorded her testimony with the USC Shoah Foundation, and the couple became actively involved with the organization. Following Ilse's passing in 2018, Dr. Delman established the Dr. Abner J. and Ilse Delman Fund in memory of Ilse and her parents, Ernest and Erna Nathan. This endowment supports the Institute’s education, research, and collections programs, ensuring that stories like Ilse’s are preserved and shared with the world. 

Keywords: Contemporary Indigenous art, Native American Art, American Art, Contemporary American Art, Luiseño Art, Abstract Expressionism, 20h Century

N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Other, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

List of Recommended Art/Antiques Packers and Shippers
- Global Transit Group (Rostislav), Tel. +1 (718) 449-1971, email: [email protected]) (Eastern Europe/Poland, and general worldwide shipping
- DG Moving Services (Dennis): +1 (914) 433-9764, email: [email protected]>
- ArtFira Shipping (Alex), Tel. +1 (917) 573-5688, email: [email protected] (also Eastern Europe Specialists)
- UPS Store New Rochelle, tel. (914) 633-6673, email: [email protected]
- Convelio, email: [email protected]
- Fine Art Shippers: Tel. +1 (917) 658-5075, email: [email protected] (also Eastern Europe specialists)
- UPS Store Mt. Kisco, tel. (914) 666-4336, email: [email protected]

List of Art/Antiques Shuttles and Delivery Services
- DG Moving Services (Dennis): +1 (914) 433-9764, email: [email protected] (NYC Greater Metropolitan Area, Mid-Atlantic, New England)
- Crossroads Delivery (Arthur): +1 (917) 807-3758, email: [email protected] (NYC Greater Metropolitan Area, Mid-Atlantic, New England, 95 Corridor to Miami, Chicago, California)
- Bob Glass: +1 (860) 608-8873, [email protected] (New England<->NYC)
- Fine Art Shippers: Tel. +1 (917) 658-5075, email: [email protected] (NY-FLA, Mid-Atlantic, Continental US)
- Cadogan Tate, https://cadogantate.com (Continental US)

Shipping Policies
- All items must be paid for before they can be released.
- Clients are free to choose their own shippers, and these recommendations are provided only for convenience. We will not accept liability for any recommendations of shippers.
- The purchaser is responsible for insuring their items in transit. Once items have been picked-up or released to a shipper, they are no longer covered under our insurance.
- Payment for shipment and arrangements for shipment, must be made with the shipper directly. Please feel free to ask for competitive shipment quotes pre or post-auction by referring to the auction date and lot number, when contacting the recommended shippers.
- Taxes must be paid on all items picked up in person, unless you present a valid resale certificate, or a common shipment courier is collecting for shipment out of state and can provide a bill of lading or a airwaybill number.
- To pick-up your items in person: Please call us at +1 (212) 717-7500 to make an appointment to pick up your items in person. If someone else whose name is not on the invoice will be picking up on your behalf, please email or fax us authorizing us to release your property to that person. Payment for all items must have been received and cleared, before merchandise can be released

June 28, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Bedford Hills, NY, US

Shapiro Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$1 - $999,999:
25.00%
$1,000,000 - $4,499,999:
20.00%
$4,500,000+:
13.90%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $29,999 $2,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $299,999 $20,000
$300,000 $499,999 $25,000
$500,000 $999,999 $50,000
$1,000,000 + $100,000