Pablita Velarde or Tse Tsan (Tewa for “Golden Dawn”) was one of the first women to be recognized as an American Pueblo painter. Her determination and leadership ushered in a golden era for many talented Native American women of her generation and beyond. Chimayo Trading and the Abrums family have deep and long connections to this family which make it meaningful to show the paintings of not only such a legend as Pablita, but also her daughter, Helen Hardin and one of our most popular contemporary painters, Michelle Tsosie Sisneros, Pablita’s niece. To be able to show the work of these three artists together is a creative example of the matrilineal inheritance that began with Velarde.

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Pablita Velarde (1918–2006), born Tse Tsan, meaning “Golden Dawn” in the Tewa language, was a pioneering Native American artist from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Renowned for her vivid depictions of traditional Pueblo life, Velarde broke barriers as one of the first women from her community to pursue painting as a professional career, defying cultural expectations and gender norms of her time. Her work, celebrated for its intricate detail and cultural authenticity, has left an enduring legacy in Native American art.

Read the full story: Pablita Velarde (1918-2006): A Trailblazing Pueblo Artist >>