Navajo Alabaster Sculpture By Alvin K. Marshall

ca. 1991 
Size 13.25" H x 7" W x 5.25" Deep
Hand Carved Red Alabaster Stone of a Indian Chief Gazing Forward Holding a Feather and with Etched Geometric Design
Excellent Condition
Alvin K. Marshall (born 1959) is a renowned Navajo sculptor based in the Four Corners region of New Mexico, near Shiprock and Farmington. His work is deeply rooted in Navajo culture, drawing from personal experiences of loss, resilience, and tradition. As a child, Marshall was removed from his Navajo reservation home and placed in boarding schools where he was forbidden from speaking his language or practicing customs. Orphaned by age 10, he was raised by his grandparents, who instilled in him the stories and values he now channels into his art. After serving in the U.S. Army as a diesel mechanic and illustrator, he began sculpting in the early 1980s under the mentorship of acclaimed Navajo-Ute artist Oreland Joe, who founded the "Eagles in Flight" group in Shiprock—a pivotal influence for many stone carvers, including Marshall.