Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is an exquisite, highly textured mixed media artwork titled 'The Passage' by renowned Navajo artist David Johns, dated 1991. The piece features a stylized, abstract figure rendered in a sophisticated palette of earth tones, metallic copper leaf, and textured sand on paper. It is beautifully presented in a floating double-mat presentation with a raw silk liner and an ornate dark wood frame.
Story
Created in 1991, this piece bridges ancient Diné spiritual cosmology with late-20th-century abstract expressionism. The central figure acts as a symbolic gateway, guiding the viewer through a spiritual transition.
Maker / Origin
David Johns is an internationally acclaimed Diné (Navajo) artist born in 1948 on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Educated at Northern Arizona University, his work is celebrated for merging traditional Navajo philosophy, particularly the concept of 'Hózhó' (harmony and balance), with modern abstraction.
Condition & Value
The artwork appears to be in excellent original condition, securely housed under glass. The metallic leaf elements retain their luster without obvious oxidation, and the sand texture shows no signs of flaking or loss. The high-end custom framing is well-preserved with only minor wear to the outer edges.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.