W.C. Shotts "Serenity" Cast Paper Relief — Navajo Shepherdess, Artist's Proof 16/25

A hand-finished cast paper relief by W.C. Shotts, depicting a Navajo woman moving through high desert country with her flock and a watchful herding dog at her side. The composition is sculpted in low relief from molded paper pulp with a deckled, hand-torn border, then tinted in soft terracotta, cream, and turquoise — the woman's coral shawl and pleated skirt, the dotted turquoise buttons at her collar, a small painted olla resting at her feet. Mesa formations and a distant hogan anchor the background; grazing sheep, a lamb, prickly pear, and desert grasses fill the field around her. A turquoise hair tie and turquoise-set earring are rendered as three-dimensional accents proud of the relief plane — a material nod to Navajo adornment traditions that Shotts incorporated across his body of work.

This is an artist's proof, numbered AP 16/25, signed lower left W.C. Shotts and titled "Serenity" lower right. Shotts's bird-form artist's cipher is stamped in coral at lower left, with a secondary monogram at lower right. The piece comes with its original National Museum and Gallery Registration Association certificate (Reg. #B 93652), issued through the William Bonney Gallery and dated June 28, 1990 — recording the title, AP 16/25 edition, medium (cast paper), size (20" × 26"), and a retail price of $760.00 at time of registration. Sold unframed.

W.C. Shotts worked in cast paper relief — a medium that gained serious gallery traction in the American West during the 1970s and 1980s, prized for its sculptural dimensionality combined with the intimacy of works on paper. Shotts distinguished himself within this niche through his Native American subjects and his practice of incorporating three-dimensional turquoise or turquoise-set accents directly into the relief surface, adding tactile authenticity to imagery drawn from Navajo and Pueblo life. His works were issued in limited numbered editions and artist's proof runs, positioning them firmly in the fine art rather than decorative reproduction market. The National Museum and Gallery Registration Association (NMGRA) was a private registry service based in Washington, D.C., that selected artists it deemed worthy of documentation and issued certificates recording each work's title, medium, size, edition, and gallery retail value — functioning as a provenance and insurance record. Inclusion in the NMGRA registry reflects the gallery-level standing Shotts's work held at the height of his market.

Signed W.C. Shotts lower left and titled "Serenity" lower right, with the artist's coral bird cipher present at lower left and a secondary monogram at lower right. Accompanied by the original NMGRA Certificate of Registration (#B 93652), which corroborates the artist, title, edition (AP 16/25), medium (cast paper), and 20" × 26" size as recorded at the William Bonney Gallery on June 28, 1990.

• Cast paper relief, AP 16/25, unframed
• Original NMGRA Certificate of Registration #B 93652 (William Bonney Gallery, dated 6-28-1990)

CONDITION

Excellent. The relief surface, applied tints, and deckled border are clean and intact throughout. Signatures, title inscription, and bird cipher are crisp and legible. The three-dimensional turquoise accents are present and secure.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Visible dimensions: 20" H × 25" W × 2" D
• Registered size (NMGRA, 1990): 20" × 26"
• Medium: Cast paper relief, hand-tinted with applied turquoise accents
• Edition: Artist's Proof 16/25
• NMGRA Registration: #B 93652
• Gallery retail at registration (1990): $760.00
• Unframed