Jacque Day “Mimbres Design” — Original Signed Watercolor, Framed

Striking original watercolor on paper by Jacque Day (American, 20th Century), signed lower right. The circular composition features a stylized Mimbres-inspired motif, rendered in earth tones of ochre, rust, and black with delicate geometric detailing. The imagery recalls the ancient pottery designs of the Mimbres culture of southwestern New Mexico, whose symbolic bird and animal forms have profoundly influenced Day’s work.

Presented matted and framed behind glass in a natural wood frame, this piece exemplifies Day’s refined interpretation of regional heritage. Through rhythmic abstraction and balanced symmetry, she transforms ancestral patterns into a modern fine-art vocabulary, honoring the continuity of Southwestern design traditions.

Medium:

Original Watercolor on Paper

Signed:

Signed “Jacque Day ©” lower right

Frame:

Wood frame, matted, under glass

Condition:

Good overall condition with vibrant color retention. Some minor debris visible behind the glass, consistent with age. Frame shows light wear at edges.

Dimensions:

Overall: 14.75" × 14.75"
Visible (sight): 7" × 7"

About the Artist: 
Jacque Day was an American artist active in the late 20th century, celebrated for her modern reinterpretations of Mimbres pottery motifs—the ancient black-on-white designs of the Mimbres people of southwestern New Mexico (ca. A.D. 800–1250). Her works, including Mimbres Gods and Mostly Mimbres, merge archaeological inspiration with contemporary expression through watercolor, lithography, and painted wood panels.

Day’s art reflects both a reverence for the spiritual and symbolic artistry of Indigenous pottery and a distinctly modern Southwestern sensibility. Her compositions—characterized by precise linework, symmetry, and earthy palettes—bridge past and present, making her works sought after by collectors of regional and Native-inspired art.