Martin Saldana Art

'Ethel, The Blue Spotted Cow' is an oil on board vibrant folk art painting by Marin Saldana with colorful cattle, birds, and cowboys with a blue sky with clouds and airplanes. Presented in a custom frame with all archival materials, outer dimensions measure 40 ¼ x 50 ¼ inches. Image measures 29 x 39 inches. About the Artist: Born on December 11, 1874, at Rancho Nuevo, 40 miles north of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Martin Saldaña’s life began humbly on a family ranch established by his grandfather. His father, a cattle dealer, raised nine children, and though Martin was the smallest in the family, he overcame the odds to live a remarkable life. From a young age, he worked on the ranch, caring for pigs at age 8 and joining his brothers on horseback at age 10 to help herd cattle. He had a fondness for gardening, managing a large flower garden on the ranch by the time he was 15. Resourceful and driven, Martin sold wood to fund his trip to San Antonio, where he found better-paying work picking cotton. After saving $350, Saldaña traveled to Tampico, Mexico, where he worked as a stoker on a ship, enduring the physically grueling job of shoveling coal while standing in water all day. Using his earnings, he and a few companions pooled their money to purchase mules, enabling them to peddle dishes to women in the mountainous regions near the mining town of Pacuoco. His time there was marked by danger, as mountain lions roamed the area—he recalled seeing the bodies of four men who had fallen victim to the wild cats. To avoid a similar fate, Martin and his companions built large fires at night for protection. Saldaña's adventurous spirit led him to work as a cook on a fishing boat, where he narrowly escaped drowning after falling between the boat and the pier. His cooking career took him across the United States, from Alabama to Kentucky and Tennessee, where he worked in various restaurants, including Italian and Greek establishments. In Tennessee, he was captivated by the sight of waitresses in white silk dresses—a memory that would later influence his art. In 1912, Saldaña arrived in Denver, Colorado, where he found work as a cook at the Sisters of Mercy Hospital. In 1915, he began a long career as a cook at the Brown Palace Hotel, a Denver landmark, where he worked for decades. By 1950, at the age of 76, Saldaña had saved enough to afford his own room nearby. It was then, in an unexpected twist, that he was invited to join a children's watercolor class at the Denver Art Museum. Embraced by both the children and their teacher, Saldaña discovered a passion for painting. Encouraged by this new creative outlet, he enrolled in art classes at the Emily Griffith School of Opportunity, where he studied under Lester Bridaham. Bridaham became Saldaña’s mentor, patron, and biggest advocate, buying every painting the artist created. He helped promote Saldaña's work in galleries and museums around the world. In 1953, Life magazine published an article titled “An Old Cook’s New Art,” celebrating Saldaña’s unexpected artistic journey. Saldaña only painted for the last 15 years of his life, working primarily from memory and imagination. His paintings, often depicting scenes from his childhood in San Luis Potosí, showcased ranch life, vibrant landscapes, animals, and his beloved flower garden. His bold use of color and geometric forms echoed the tapestry traditions of his Mexican heritage. Despite a relatively brief painting career, Saldaña completed a new work every three days and left behind a significant body of work. Saldaña passed away on September 5, 1965, at the age of 91. His legacy endures through his distinctive and heartfelt paintings, which are held in major collections including the Denver Art Museum, the University of Wyoming Art Museum, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the International Folk Art Museum, Neuss in Aberthaw Museum (London), and the Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). ©David Cook Galleries...

Discover the vibrant world of Martin Saldana, a talented Mexican-American folk artist known for his captivating rustic and naïve style. This original painting, titled "The Train", wa...

"Girl with Sheep and Car" is a captivating mid-20th century oil on board painting by self-taught folk artist Martin Saldaña (1874-1965). This vibrant landscape features a whimsical F...

Oil on board painting by Martin Saldana (1874-1965) titled 'Farm and Figures'. Presented in a custom frame measuring 21 ½ x 26 ¼ inches; image size is 14 x 19 ⅛ inches. Titled by the artist verso. Dark green background with flowers, houses, and hills with two figures in the upper left corner holding hands. Painted with colors of orange, white, purple, and yellow. Painting is in good condition - please contact us for a detailed condition report. About the Artist: Born Mexico 1874 Died 1965 Born in 1874, Saldaña grew up at Rancho Neuvo in Mexico. In 1950, at the age of 76, he began attending children's art classes at the Denver Art Museum. For the next fitfteen years, Saldaña Imaginatively documented whimsical memories from his childhood in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, portraying ranch life, landscapes, and his great love of animals. The prolific artist painted every day, completing a new piece about every three days and amassing an impressive body of work for the former cook at the Denver landmark, the Brown Palace Hotel. Saldaña’s vibrant palette and geometric figures are reminiscent of the tapestries of his Mexican heritage and the paintings, primarily in oil, are innocent and endearing. Saldaña is considered to be a outsider artist, a folk artist who is self-taught, whose work is simple, direct, and high personal. Works Held: Denver Art Museum, University of Wyoming Art Museum, The Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, International Folk Art Museum, Neuss In Aberthor Museum, Stedelijk Museum ©David Cook Galleries...

'Girl on a Swing' vintage 1950s-1960s landscape painting by Mexican-American folk artist, Martin Saldana (1874-1965). This painting depicts a female figure on a swing with two other...

This enchanting original oil painting, Pinky, is a beautiful example of whimsical Naïve folk art by the artist Martin Saldaña. The artwork features a charming portrait of a young gir...

"Seated Girl and Hummingbird" is a vibrant oil on board painting by Mexican artist Martin Saldaña (1874-1965). This captivating folk art piece portrays three figures standing near a ...

Brightly colored semi-abstract oil painting titled 'Small Nude' signed by Martin Saldana (1874-1965). Presented in a custom frame measuring 28 ½ x 22 ½ inches; image size is 20 ½ x 17 3⁄4 inches. Portrays a single female form surrounded by birds and flowers. Painting is in good condition - please contact us for a detailed condition report. About the Artist: Born Mexico 1874 Died 1965 Born in 1874, Saldaña grew up at Rancho Neuvo in Mexico. In 1950, at the age of 76, he began attending children's art classes at the Denver Art Museum. For the next fitfteen years, Saldaña Imaginatively documented whimsical memories from his childhood in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, portraying ranch life, landscapes, and his great love of animals. The prolific artist painted every day, completing a new piece about every three days and amassing an impressive body of work for the former cook at the Denver landmark, the Brown Palace Hotel...

"Lovely Gal" is a charming oil on board painting by Martin Saldaña (1874-1965), a self-taught outsider artist known for his vibrant, whimsical depictions of childhood memories and rural life. This semi-abstract figurative work features a colorful palette of bold hues, with flowers and birds that reflect Saldaña's deep connection to nature and his Mexican heritage. The painting is presented in a custom frame with outer dimensions of 30 ¾ x 25 ⅜ x 1 ⅝ inches, and the image size is 24 ½ x 19 ⅛ inches. About the Artist: Martin Saldaña was born in 1874 at Rancho Neuvo, Mexico, and led a modest life, working as a cook at Denver's iconic Brown Palace Hotel. At the age of 76, Saldaña began attending children’s art classes at the Denver Art Museum, sparking a late-blooming artistic career. Over the next 15 years, he vividly captured memories of his childhood in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, focusing on ranch life, landscapes, and his love for animals. Saldaña's work is noted for its bold, geometric figures and vibrant colors, often evoking the influence of Mexican tapestries. His paintings are considered to be naïve and folk art, characterized by their simple, direct, and highly personal style. Saldaña's prolific output—creating a new painting nearly every three days—resulted in an impressive collection of artworks that continue to be celebrated today. Saldaña’s endearing style continues to captivate art enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into a rich, nostalgic world filled with vibrant colors and heartfelt simplicity. ©David Cook Galleries...