Patricia Black “Dolly” Signed Painted Gourd Sculpture – Horse Hair, Leather & Beads

Exceptional mixed-media sculpture titled “Dolly” by New Mexico artist Patricia Black, a featured exhibitor with the Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery. This signed work exemplifies Black’s signature blend of natural materials, fine craftsmanship, and Southwestern-inspired design.

Formed from a natural gourd, the piece is hand-painted with intricate geometric motifs in vivid earth tones of red, turquoise, ochre, and black, bordered by precise pyrographic outlines. A diagonal patterned sash evokes a ceremonial textile, filled with sun, tree, and abstract nature symbols that speak to harmony, spirit, and tradition. The serene, minimalist face — with closed eyes and open mouth — conveys calm introspection, while the organic gourd contours preserve the integrity of the form.

Adorned with braided horse hair, glass beads, and a woven leather shawl, the figure is mounted on a substantial 3-inch carved wood base. The composition moves elegantly from black to ochre to multicolor, uniting organic simplicity with expressive detail. “Dolly” captures Black’s artistry at its most refined — a union of natural form, folk narrative, and contemporary sculpture.

Condition:

In excellent condition, showing no remarkable damage or wear. Surfaces are clean and stable, with rich coloration, smooth varnish, and intact adornments. Ready for display.

Dimensions:

Approx. 31 x 11 x 10 inches
Weight: about 4 lbs
Mounted on 3-inch-thick carved wood base. Campbell’s soup can shown for scale.

Artist Biography:

Patricia Black is a contemporary New Mexico artist celebrated for her distinctive gourd sculptures and mixed-media creations. She is a long-standing member of the Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery, where her work was featured in 2025 as part of the “Spotlight Artist” series. Black grows and cures many of her own gourds — a process that can take up to a year — before sketching, burning, painting, and sealing each piece. Her compositions often incorporate leather, horsehair, beads, and natural dyes, blending organic materials with refined artistry.

Her work embodies the spirit of the Southwest, drawing inspiration from local landscapes, natural textures, and symbolic motifs. Each piece is unique, emphasizing harmony between nature and human expression. Black’s art has appeared in regional exhibitions and fine art galleries throughout southern New Mexico and has become sought after among collectors of folk-inspired and contemporary craft sculpture.