Leslie Pablo (Navajo) “Buffalo Dancer” Alabaster Sculpture, 2005 View Watchlist >
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Lot # B494
System ID # 26584031
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Leslie Pablo (Navajo) “Buffalo Dancer” Alabaster Sculpture, 2005
Impressive hand-carved alabaster sculpture by Navajo artist Leslie Pablo (b. 1964), titled Buffalo Dancer, signed and dated ’05 Pablo. The figure portrays a ceremonial dancer wearing a horned buffalo headdress and carrying a decorated shield, rendered with intricate incising and contrasting textures. The polished alabaster captures the warm natural veining of the stone, while the rougher carved areas lend depth and realism.
Mounted on a rotating oak plinth, this 52-pound work exemplifies Pablo’s masterful balance of cultural symbolism and sculptural precision. The Buffalo Dancer, a figure of strength, endurance, and renewal, serves as both a spiritual emblem and a statement of artistic devotion. A commanding centerpiece that reflects the finest traditions of contemporary Navajo carving.
Condition
In excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or repairs. The alabaster surface is clean and stable, and the oak plinth rotates smoothly.
Dimensions
Height: 31.5 in.
Width: 10 in.
Depth: 9.5 in.
Weight: 52 lbs
Mounted on rotating oak plinth. (Campbell’s soup can shown for scale.)
Artist Biography
Leslie Pablo (Navajo, b. 1964) is a contemporary Native American sculptor known for his hand-carved alabaster and marble figures inspired by Navajo tradition. Born into the Navajo Nation, Pablo began sculpting in 1989 under the guidance of his friend Tim Washburn, learning the fundamentals of stone carving. His works often depict spiritual and ceremonial subjects—warriors, dancers, and symbolic animals—expressed through a distinctive blend of polished and textured surfaces.
Pablo sources his stone from Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico quarries, emphasizing the material’s natural beauty and translucence. His sculptures have been exhibited in regional art shows and Native markets throughout the Southwest, including the New Mexico State Fair and Santa Fe Indian Market. Related to fellow carvers Randall and Roland Beyal, Pablo is part of a respected family lineage of Navajo stone artists. His pieces are sought by collectors for their technical precision, spiritual resonance, and cultural authenticity.
