Roseta Santiago is known for her dynamic realistic paintings.  History reverberates in each of her paintings.  Roseta Says of her art:

“The things that inspire me are the historical artifacts, historical people.  My models are people with whom I spend time and who have something to reveal. It’s always about inner beauty. It’s mainly the interior of a person or thing. I can almost experience a pot being made when I paint it. I just see what the potter went through.” 

She is best known for her luminous still life and figurative paintings of Native peoples and artifacts portrayed with dramatic lighting, Santiago is a master at chiaroscuro.  She uses mostly living models, although a few historic people taken from photographs weave their way into her art.  She says one of her goals is to honor Native American culture through her portrayals in her art. 

This painting is entitled, “The Buffalo Robe“.  It is an oil on panel.  The painting is part of her Santa Fe Railroad series.  There is amazing detail in the buffalo robe and the Navajo blanket.  The piece is signed, “Santiago”.

This painting is entitled, “The Buffalo Robe“.  It is an oil on panel.  The painting is part of her Santa Fe Railroad series.  There is amazing detail in the buffalo robe and the Navajo blanket.  The piece is signed, “Santiago”.  Roseta said of this piece:

“There is often symbolism in my paintings.  When I paint Native Americans, they are always moving forward. Here there is also the Santa Fe Railroad logo.  My father did his first Santa Fe Railroad crossing with Harry Truman as his chef.  I saw the boxcar with the logo in Santa Fe and it inspired me to put it into my paintings.”

We are very pleased to represent Roseta Santiago at our galleries in Santa Fe and Scottsdale.  Please stop by and check them out in person!