John W Nieto Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1936 - d. 2018

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  • John Nieto "Maria" Acrylic on Canvas
    Sep. 29, 2026

    John Nieto "Maria" Acrylic on Canvas

    Est: $15,000 - $25,000

    Signed by the artist in the lower left.  Provenance: Receipts and documents from Western Images and Windsor Betts.    Image: 47 1/2" x 56" Frame: 50" x 58 1/2"   Condition: The painting is in very good condition.    Artist Bio: John Nieto (1936-2018) was an American painter associated with the contemporary Southwest, best known for applying Fauvist color to Native American and Western subjects. Born in Denver and raised in the Southwest, he took a degree in fine art from Southern Methodist University in 1959, though he described himself as largely self-taught as a painter. His subjects are portraits of Native American figures and North American wildlife, rendered in saturated, non-naturalistic color and flattened, graphic form. Later in his career he introduced Cubist-derived structure into a series of portraits of historical Native American figures.

    SebastianCharles Auctions
  • Painting of Native American Drummers, John Nieto.
    Sep. 26, 2026

    Painting of Native American Drummers, John Nieto.

    Est: $10,000 - $20,000

    Artist(s): John Nieto (American, 1936-2018). Medium: Acrylic painting on canvas. Signature(s): Lower left. Paperwork/Provenance: N/A Condition: Surface grime present to the lower purple border. Minor signs of wear to the corners of the frame. Measurement(s): 59" x 47" (sight), 61" x 49" (frame). It weighs 22 lbs. Please note: this lot has not been inspected out of its frame(s). Third-party shipping or personal pickup is required. Please contact us for our shipping recommendations. Please select “Self Arranged” at checkout to ensure the best rate and proper packing of your piece via our third-party recommendations.

    Direct Auction Galleries, Inc.
  • JOHN NIETO (American 1936-2018) Fancy Dancer, 1983, 35 x 27 1/4 in. (88.9 x 69.2 cm.), Frame: 42 3/4 x 34 1/2 in. (108.6 x 87.6 cm.)
    Sep. 26, 2026

    JOHN NIETO (American 1936-2018) Fancy Dancer, 1983, 35 x 27 1/4 in. (88.9 x 69.2 cm.), Frame: 42 3/4 x 34 1/2 in. (108.6 x 87.6 cm.)

    Est: $400 - $600

    JOHN NIETO (American 1936-2018) Fancy Dancer, 1983, serigraph on paper, signed lower right, "Nieto," and numbered lower left, "23/25."

    Simpson Galleries, LLC
  • John Nieto (Native American, 1936-2018) Navajo
    Sep. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (Native American, 1936-2018) Navajo

    Est: $200 - $400

    Giclee on paper, from the edition of 300. Signed in graphite 'Nieto' lower right and numbered '129/300' lower left.

    Cottone Auctions
  • John Nieto, Corn Dancer
    Sep. 19, 2026

    John Nieto, Corn Dancer

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    John Nieto 1936-2018 Corn Dancer stained glass inscribed lower right: nieto estate signature verso: nieto estate signature

    Jackson Hole Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Sioux with Presidential Medal, 2005
    Sep. 19, 2026

    John Nieto, Sioux with Presidential Medal, 2005

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    John Nieto 1936-2018 Sioux with Presidential Medal, 2005 acrylic on canvas signed lower right: nieto verso: titled, signed and dated

    Jackson Hole Art Auction
  • JOHN NIETO (AMERICAN, 1936-2018) GRIZZLY BEAR
    Sep. 13, 2026

    JOHN NIETO (AMERICAN, 1936-2018) GRIZZLY BEAR

    Est: $800 - $1,600

    JOHN NIETO (AMERICAN, 1936-2018) LIMITED EDTION SERIGRAPH DEPICTING A GRIZZLY BEAR Height: 41 in. by Width: 48

    Lewis & Maese Antiques & Auctions
  • John Nieto Prayer for Return of Buffalo Painting
    Sep. 12, 2026

    John Nieto Prayer for Return of Buffalo Painting

    Est: $35,000 - $50,000

    Title is Prayer for the Return of the Buffalo. 30" by 40" unframed. 31 1/2" by 41 1/2" framed. Acrylic on Canvas. Provenance: From the Private Collection of John E. Lawler John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) was active/lived in Texas, New Mexico. John Nieto is known for Native American theme painting, etching, graphics, sculpture. John Nieto calls himself an American artist who paints Indians, not an Indian artist. An acclaimed leader of his field, but taking a separate path to represent Native Americans in striking symbolic portraits, Nieto is exhibited worldwide and has had paintings accepted for the Presidential library. He does not attempt to be authentic, but to show a core Native spirit. His Indians seem to belong to a universal tribe that suggest a common, Far Eastern origin, and connection with a contemporary group. Early this century, Indian artists were cultivated in a white man's school and encouraged to portray ancestral and reservation experiences. Art from that period was inauthentic and oblivious to world trends. Since mid-century, Indian-born artists began to tell a bitter truth of Indian pain from alcoholism and other social problems. John Nieto belongs to neither camp. His Indians are not idealized or troubled. They are potters, warriors, silversmiths or shamans in traditional garb, as well as indigenous wildlife, painted in brilliant, oddly paired colors and radiating a quiet dignity. "There is no formula for my faces. I paint the dance of identity around the pan-Indian bone structure of all Native Americans. I am painting a person, but I am painting much more than that," says Nieto. He says that his art "is the result of an emotional involvement with my subject matter rather than a cerebral one." He uses broad strokes and thick layers of brilliant colors with a halo of contrasting color traced around each figure. His electric hues are unmistakable. Nieto's work reflects his upbringing from Hispanic and Indian-born parents. His distinct style comes not only from his native New Mexico, where he still lives, but also from a global awareness and travels to Europe. His unfettered use of brilliant colors has been likened to the Fauves of the 1920s' French movement. Nieto has spent time in Paris and also seems to be influenced by European expressionists who released the subconscious onto canvases. He also uses painting techniques and a spiritual awareness from the Far East. His approach is ritualistic. "I'm in a trance when I paint. It's like being a drummer -- you don't look at the drums, you just know intuitively where they are." An artist of established international reputation, Nieto's work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Africa, in addition to his annual shows in Santa Fe, New York and Palm Springs. In 1981 his work was exhibited at the Salon D`Automne/Grand Palais in Paris, France. His work, the subject of two books and numerous articles, is also represented in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. In 1994, Nieto received New Mexico's Governor's Award for achievement in the Arts. He has served on the Advisory Board of The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, the Advisory Board of the Native American Preparatory School, and is a Regent at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. John Nieto lives and works in Corrales, New Mexico, on the banks of the Rio Grande River. His roots run deep in the state of his birth, with ancestors going back more than 300 years.

    Davis Brothers Auction
  • John Nieto Indian Shrouded in Blanket Painting
    Sep. 12, 2026

    John Nieto Indian Shrouded in Blanket Painting

    Est: $35,000 - $50,000

    Title is Indian Shrouded in Blanket. 30" by 40" unframed. 32" by 42" framed. Acrylic on Canvas. Provenance: Tierney Fine Art Bozeman Montana. John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) was active/lived in Texas, New Mexico. John Nieto is known for Native American theme painting, etching, graphics, sculpture. John Nieto calls himself an American artist who paints Indians, not an Indian artist. An acclaimed leader of his field, but taking a separate path to represent Native Americans in striking symbolic portraits, Nieto is exhibited worldwide and has had paintings accepted for the Presidential library. He does not attempt to be authentic, but to show a core Native spirit. His Indians seem to belong to a universal tribe that suggest a common, Far Eastern origin, and connection with a contemporary group. Early this century, Indian artists were cultivated in a white man's school and encouraged to portray ancestral and reservation experiences. Art from that period was inauthentic and oblivious to world trends. Since mid-century, Indian-born artists began to tell a bitter truth of Indian pain from alcoholism and other social problems. John Nieto belongs to neither camp. His Indians are not idealized or troubled. They are potters, warriors, silversmiths or shamans in traditional garb, as well as indigenous wildlife, painted in brilliant, oddly paired colors and radiating a quiet dignity. "There is no formula for my faces. I paint the dance of identity around the pan-Indian bone structure of all Native Americans. I am painting a person, but I am painting much more than that," says Nieto. He says that his art "is the result of an emotional involvement with my subject matter rather than a cerebral one." He uses broad strokes and thick layers of brilliant colors with a halo of contrasting color traced around each figure. His electric hues are unmistakable. Nieto's work reflects his upbringing from Hispanic and Indian-born parents. His distinct style comes not only from his native New Mexico, where he still lives, but also from a global awareness and travels to Europe. His unfettered use of brilliant colors has been likened to the Fauves of the 1920s' French movement. Nieto has spent time in Paris and also seems to be influenced by European expressionists who released the subconscious onto canvases. He also uses painting techniques and a spiritual awareness from the Far East. His approach is ritualistic. "I'm in a trance when I paint. It's like being a drummer -- you don't look at the drums, you just know intuitively where they are." An artist of established international reputation, Nieto's work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Africa, in addition to his annual shows in Santa Fe, New York and Palm Springs. In 1981 his work was exhibited at the Salon D`Automne/Grand Palais in Paris, France. His work, the subject of two books and numerous articles, is also represented in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. In 1994, Nieto received New Mexico's Governor's Award for achievement in the Arts. He has served on the Advisory Board of The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, the Advisory Board of the Native American Preparatory School, and is a Regent at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. John Nieto lives and works in Corrales, New Mexico, on the banks of the Rio Grande River. His roots run deep in the state of his birth, with ancestors going back more than 300 years.

    Davis Brothers Auction
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Reclining Nude', 2005
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Reclining Nude', 2005

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Reclining Nude', 2005, acrylic on canvas, signed lower right, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 47 3/4 x 59 3/4in; as framed 49 1/2 x 61 1/2in

    Bonhams
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Prayer for the Return of the Buffalo,' 1996
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Prayer for the Return of the Buffalo,' 1996

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Prayer for the Return of the Buffalo,' 1996, acrylic on canvas, signed lower right, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 39 1/4 x 29 1/4in; as framed 41 1/2 x 31 1/2in

    Bonhams
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Rabbit (After Dürer's 'Young Hare')', 2010
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Rabbit (After Dürer's 'Young Hare')', 2010

    Est: $6,000 - $9,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Rabbit,' 2010, (after Albrecht Dürer's 'Feldhase (Young Hare), 1502), acrylic on canvas, signed lower right, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 19 1/2 x 23 1/2in; as framed 21 3/4 x 25 3/4in

    Bonhams
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Deer Dancers', 2011
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Deer Dancers', 2011

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Deer Dancers', 2011, acrylic on canvas, signed lower left, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 47 1/2 x 47 1/2in; as framed 49 5/8 x 49 5/8in

    Bonhams
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Fool Thunder: Dakota Sioux', 1995
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Fool Thunder: Dakota Sioux', 1995

    Est: $10,000 - $15,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Fool Thunder: Dakota Sioux', 1995, acrylic on canvas, signed lower right, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 29 3/8 x 23 3/8in; as framed 31 3/4 x 26in

    Bonhams
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Balloon Fiesta', 2001
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Balloon Fiesta', 2001

    Est: $50,000 - $80,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Balloon Fiesta', 2001, the official artwork for the 30th Anniversary Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, acrylic on canvas, signed lower left, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 59 1/4 x 47 3/8in; as framed 63 x 51 1/2in

    Bonhams
  • A John Nieto painting, 'Lion Greeting', 2007
    Aug. 26, 2026

    A John Nieto painting, 'Lion Greeting', 2007

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    John Nieto Hispanic/Mescalero Apache/Diné (Navajo), (1936-2018), 'Lion Greeting', 2007, acrylic on canvas, signed lower left, titled, signed and dated verso, framed. size (sight) 35 1/2 x 47 1/2in; as framed 37 1/2 x 49 1/2in

    Bonhams
  • John Nieto, Peace & Loyalty, ca. 2002
    Aug. 11, 2026

    John Nieto, Peace & Loyalty, ca. 2002

    Est: $600 - $900

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Peace & Loyalty, ca. 2002 serigraph, edition 23 of 300 editioned lower left: 23/300 signed lower right: nieto chop lower right: Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake 2002

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Wolf on the Prowl
    Aug. 11, 2026

    John Nieto, Wolf on the Prowl

    Est: $600 - $900

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Wolf on the Prowl serigraph, artist's proof, edition 29 of 45 editioned lower left: AP 29/45 signed lower right: nieto

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Wolf Medicine
    Aug. 11, 2026

    John Nieto, Wolf Medicine

    Est: $600 - $900

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Wolf Medicine serigraph, artist's proof, edition 29 of 45 editioned lower left: AP 29/45 signed lower right: nieto

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Bird Rattler, 2007
    Aug. 11, 2026

    John Nieto, Bird Rattler, 2007

    Est: $1,000 - $2,000

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Bird Rattler, 2007 ink on paper titled lower center: BIRD RATTLER signed and dated lower right: nieto / 2007

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto (1936-2018) - Quanah Parker Comanche
    Jul. 30, 2026

    John Nieto (1936-2018) - Quanah Parker Comanche

    Est: $6,500 - $10,000

    11.75" x 9.75" framed, 10" x 8" unframed. Signed by the artist in the lower right corner. All packing and shipping is done in-house by Medicine Man Gallery packing department, unless requested otherwise. We limit credit card payments to a maximum of $10,000 per auction or sale, AND NO CREDIT CARD FEES ARE CHARGED. If your purchase exceeds this amount, the remaining balance must be paid via an alternative method.

    Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery & Auction
  • John Nieto, American (1936-2018), Native American Indian drummers, 2 offset lithographs, Impressions II, Tucson, Arizona, 27"H x 21 1/2"W (Sight), 28 1/2”H x 23 1/2”W (Frame) (Largest)
    Jul. 28, 2026

    John Nieto, American (1936-2018), Native American Indian drummers, 2 offset lithographs, Impressions II, Tucson, Arizona, 27"H x 21 1/2"W (Sight), 28 1/2”H x 23 1/2”W (Frame) (Largest)

    Est: -

    John Nieto American, (1936-2018) Native American Indian drummers 2 offset lithographs, Impressions II, Tucson, Arizona One is hand signed lower left, the poster is signed in the print.

    Ripley Auctions
  • John Nieto Midthunder Acrylic Painting
    Jul. 11, 2026

    John Nieto Midthunder Acrylic Painting

    Est: $30,000 - $40,000

    Title is Midthunder. Dated 2017. 24" by 30" unframed, 25 1/2" by 31 1/2" framed. Acrylic on canvas. Provenance: The Artist, New Mexico 2017, Tierney Fine Art, Bozeman, Montana John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) was active/lived in Texas, New Mexico. John Nieto is known for Native American theme painting, etching, graphics, sculpture. John Nieto calls himself an American artist who paints Indians, not an Indian artist. An acclaimed leader of his field, but taking a separate path to represent Native Americans in striking symbolic portraits, Nieto is exhibited worldwide and has had paintings accepted for the Presidential library. He does not attempt to be authentic, but to show a core Native spirit. His Indians seem to belong to a universal tribe that suggest a common, Far Eastern origin, and connection with a contemporary group. Early this century, Indian artists were cultivated in a white man's school and encouraged to portray ancestral and reservation experiences. Art from that period was inauthentic and oblivious to world trends. Since mid-century, Indian-born artists began to tell a bitter truth of Indian pain from alcoholism and other social problems. John Nieto belongs to neither camp. His Indians are not idealized or troubled. They are potters, warriors, silversmiths or shamans in traditional garb, as well as indigenous wildlife, painted in brilliant, oddly paired colors and radiating a quiet dignity. "There is no formula for my faces. I paint the dance of identity around the pan-Indian bone structure of all Native Americans. I am painting a person, but I am painting much more than that," says Nieto. He says that his art "is the result of an emotional involvement with my subject matter rather than a cerebral one." He uses broad strokes and thick layers of brilliant colors with a halo of contrasting color traced around each figure. His electric hues are unmistakable. Nieto's work reflects his upbringing from Hispanic and Indian-born parents. His distinct style comes not only from his native New Mexico, where he still lives, but also from a global awareness and travels to Europe. His unfettered use of brilliant colors has been likened to the Fauves of the 1920s' French movement. Nieto has spent time in Paris and also seems to be influenced by European expressionists who released the subconscious onto canvases. He also uses painting techniques and a spiritual awareness from the Far East. His approach is ritualistic. "I'm in a trance when I paint. It's like being a drummer -- you don't look at the drums, you just know intuitively where they are." An artist of established international reputation, Nieto's work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Africa, in addition to his annual shows in Santa Fe, New York and Palm Springs. In 1981 his work was exhibited at the Salon D`Automne/Grand Palais in Paris, France. His work, the subject of two books and numerous articles, is also represented in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. In 1994, Nieto received New Mexico's Governor's Award for achievement in the Arts. He has served on the Advisory Board of The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, the Advisory Board of the Native American Preparatory School, and is a Regent at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. John Nieto lives and works in Corrales, New Mexico, on the banks of the Rio Grande River. His roots run deep in the state of his birth, with ancestors going back more than 300 years.

    Davis Brothers Auction
  • John Nieto Cheyenne Scout Acrylic Painting
    Jul. 11, 2026

    John Nieto Cheyenne Scout Acrylic Painting

    Est: $30,000 - $40,000

    Title is Cheyenne Scout. 24" by 30" unframed, 25 1/2" by 31 1/2" framed. Acrylic on canvas. Provenance: The Artist, New Mexico 2013, Tierney Fine Art, Bozeman, Montana John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) was active/lived in Texas, New Mexico. John Nieto is known for Native American theme painting, etching, graphics, sculpture. John Nieto calls himself an American artist who paints Indians, not an Indian artist. An acclaimed leader of his field, but taking a separate path to represent Native Americans in striking symbolic portraits, Nieto is exhibited worldwide and has had paintings accepted for the Presidential library. He does not attempt to be authentic, but to show a core Native spirit. His Indians seem to belong to a universal tribe that suggest a common, Far Eastern origin, and connection with a contemporary group. Early this century, Indian artists were cultivated in a white man's school and encouraged to portray ancestral and reservation experiences. Art from that period was inauthentic and oblivious to world trends. Since mid-century, Indian-born artists began to tell a bitter truth of Indian pain from alcoholism and other social problems. John Nieto belongs to neither camp. His Indians are not idealized or troubled. They are potters, warriors, silversmiths or shamans in traditional garb, as well as indigenous wildlife, painted in brilliant, oddly paired colors and radiating a quiet dignity. "There is no formula for my faces. I paint the dance of identity around the pan-Indian bone structure of all Native Americans. I am painting a person, but I am painting much more than that," says Nieto. He says that his art "is the result of an emotional involvement with my subject matter rather than a cerebral one." He uses broad strokes and thick layers of brilliant colors with a halo of contrasting color traced around each figure. His electric hues are unmistakable. Nieto's work reflects his upbringing from Hispanic and Indian-born parents. His distinct style comes not only from his native New Mexico, where he still lives, but also from a global awareness and travels to Europe. His unfettered use of brilliant colors has been likened to the Fauves of the 1920s' French movement. Nieto has spent time in Paris and also seems to be influenced by European expressionists who released the subconscious onto canvases. He also uses painting techniques and a spiritual awareness from the Far East. His approach is ritualistic. "I'm in a trance when I paint. It's like being a drummer -- you don't look at the drums, you just know intuitively where they are." An artist of established international reputation, Nieto's work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Africa, in addition to his annual shows in Santa Fe, New York and Palm Springs. In 1981 his work was exhibited at the Salon D`Automne/Grand Palais in Paris, France. His work, the subject of two books and numerous articles, is also represented in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. In 1994, Nieto received New Mexico's Governor's Award for achievement in the Arts. He has served on the Advisory Board of The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, the Advisory Board of the Native American Preparatory School, and is a Regent at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. John Nieto lives and works in Corrales, New Mexico, on the banks of the Rio Grande River. His roots run deep in the state of his birth, with ancestors going back more than 300 years.

    Davis Brothers Auction
  • John Nieto Young Rooster Acrylic Painting
    Jul. 11, 2026

    John Nieto Young Rooster Acrylic Painting

    Est: $15,000 - $20,000

    Title is Young Rooster. Dated 2006. 20" by 24" unframed, 21 1/2" by 25 1/2" framed. Acrylic on canvas. Provenance: Enchanted Galleries. John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) was active/lived in Texas, New Mexico. John Nieto is known for Native American theme painting, etching, graphics, sculpture. John Nieto calls himself an American artist who paints Indians, not an Indian artist. An acclaimed leader of his field, but taking a separate path to represent Native Americans in striking symbolic portraits, Nieto is exhibited worldwide and has had paintings accepted for the Presidential library. He does not attempt to be authentic, but to show a core Native spirit. His Indians seem to belong to a universal tribe that suggest a common, Far Eastern origin, and connection with a contemporary group. Early this century, Indian artists were cultivated in a white man's school and encouraged to portray ancestral and reservation experiences. Art from that period was inauthentic and oblivious to world trends. Since mid-century, Indian-born artists began to tell a bitter truth of Indian pain from alcoholism and other social problems. John Nieto belongs to neither camp. His Indians are not idealized or troubled. They are potters, warriors, silversmiths or shamans in traditional garb, as well as indigenous wildlife, painted in brilliant, oddly paired colors and radiating a quiet dignity. "There is no formula for my faces. I paint the dance of identity around the pan-Indian bone structure of all Native Americans. I am painting a person, but I am painting much more than that," says Nieto. He says that his art "is the result of an emotional involvement with my subject matter rather than a cerebral one." He uses broad strokes and thick layers of brilliant colors with a halo of contrasting color traced around each figure. His electric hues are unmistakable. Nieto's work reflects his upbringing from Hispanic and Indian-born parents. His distinct style comes not only from his native New Mexico, where he still lives, but also from a global awareness and travels to Europe. His unfettered use of brilliant colors has been likened to the Fauves of the 1920s' French movement. Nieto has spent time in Paris and also seems to be influenced by European expressionists who released the subconscious onto canvases. He also uses painting techniques and a spiritual awareness from the Far East. His approach is ritualistic. "I'm in a trance when I paint. It's like being a drummer -- you don't look at the drums, you just know intuitively where they are." An artist of established international reputation, Nieto's work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Africa, in addition to his annual shows in Santa Fe, New York and Palm Springs. In 1981 his work was exhibited at the Salon D`Automne/Grand Palais in Paris, France. His work, the subject of two books and numerous articles, is also represented in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. In 1994, Nieto received New Mexico's Governor's Award for achievement in the Arts. He has served on the Advisory Board of The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, the Advisory Board of the Native American Preparatory School, and is a Regent at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. John Nieto lives and works in Corrales, New Mexico, on the banks of the Rio Grande River. His roots run deep in the state of his birth, with ancestors going back more than 300 years.

    Davis Brothers Auction
  • JOHN NIETO (1936-2018). Rabbit (After Durer). oil on canvas30 1/8 x 24 in.
    Jun. 25, 2026

    JOHN NIETO (1936-2018). Rabbit (After Durer). oil on canvas30 1/8 x 24 in.

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    JOHN NIETO (1936-2018). Rabbit (After Durer). oil on canvas30 1/8 x 24 in. (76.5 x 61 cm.).

    Christie's
  • JOHN NIETO (1936-2018). Pueblo Indian Woman (Adobe Plasterer) with American
    Jun. 25, 2026

    JOHN NIETO (1936-2018). Pueblo Indian Woman (Adobe Plasterer) with American

    Est: $15,000 - $25,000

    JOHN NIETO (1936-2018). Pueblo Indian Woman (Adobe Plasterer) with American Flag. acrylic on canvas44 x 39 7/8 in. (111.8 x 101.3 cm.).

    Christie's
  • John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Plains Warrior, 1996
    Jun. 07, 2026

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Plains Warrior, 1996

    Est: $2,000 - $3,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Plains Warrior, 1996 acrylic on canvas signed Nieto (lower left); signed, titled, and dated (on the turnover) 10 x 8 in. Property from a Private Collection, Cincinnati, OH This lot is located in Philadelphia.

    Freeman’s
  • John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Coyote Medicine, 1993
    Jun. 07, 2026

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Coyote Medicine, 1993

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Coyote Medicine, 1993 acrylic on canvas signed Nieto (lower right); signed, titled, and dated (on the stretcher) 30 x 40 in. Property from the Private Collection of S. Vallario This lot is located in Philadelphia.

    Freeman’s
  • John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Grey Eagle, 1991
    Jun. 07, 2026

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Grey Eagle, 1991

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Grey Eagle, 1991 acrylic on canvas signed Nieto (lower right); signed, titled, and dated (on the stretcher) 44 x 40 in. This lot is located in Philadelphia.

    Freeman’s
  • John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Quick Bear, 1988
    Jun. 07, 2026

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Quick Bear, 1988

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Quick Bear, 1988 acrylic on canvas signed Nieto (lower right); titled, signed, dated, and inscribed (on the stretcher) 60 x 48 in. Property from the Collection of Dr. Deane and Susan Penn This lot is located in Philadelphia.

    Freeman’s
  • John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Plains Warrior, 1996
    Jun. 07, 2026

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Plains Warrior, 1996

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Plains Warrior, 1996 acrylic on canvas signed Nieto (lower center); titled, signed, and dated (on the turnover) 72 x 60 in. This lot is located in Philadelphia.

    Freeman’s
  • John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Archer
    Jun. 07, 2026

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Archer

    Est: $15,000 - $25,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Archer acrylic on canvas signed Nieto (lower left); signed and titled (on the stretcher) 60 x 48 in. Property from the Private Collection of S. Vallario This lot is located in Philadelphia.

    Freeman’s
  • JOHN NIETO "GATHERING WATER" SERIGRAPH
    May. 31, 2026

    JOHN NIETO "GATHERING WATER" SERIGRAPH

    Est: -

    John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) "Gathering Water" Serigraph on Paper. John Nieto calls himself an American artist who paints Indians, not an Indian artist. An acclaimed leader of his field, but taking a separate path to represent Native Americans in striking symbolic portraits, Nieto is exhibited worldwide and has had paintings accepted for the Presidential library. He does not attempt to be authentic, but to show a core Native spirit. His Indians seem to belong to a universal tribe that suggest a common, Far Eastern origin, and connection with a contemporary group. An artist of established international reputation, Nieto's work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Africa, in addition to his annual shows in Santa Fe, New York and Palm Springs. In 1981 his work was exhibited at the Salon D`Automne/Grand Palais in Paris, France. His work, the subject of two books and numerous articles, is also represented in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Artist: John Nieto Title: "Gathering Water" Medium: Serigraph Signature Type: Hand Signed | Signature Location: Lower Right | Edition: Shop Impression | Keywords: Native American, Indian Artwork, Art; Ref: BD8088

    Bradford's
  • John Nieto, Wolf Portrait, 2009
    May. 06, 2026

    John Nieto, Wolf Portrait, 2009

    Est: $5,000 - $10,000

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Wolf Portrait, 2009 acrylic on canvas signed lower left: nieto inscribed verso: "Wolf Portrait" © nieto 2009

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Nieto: Les Livres des Peintres, 1996
    May. 06, 2026

    John Nieto, Nieto: Les Livres des Peintres, 1996

    Est: $2,000 - $4,000

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Nieto: Les Livres des Peintres, 1996 serigraph, edition 257 of 395 smyth sewn, leather bound portfolio of serigraphs on wove paper editioned: 257/395 includes thirty serigraphs in six chapters; Archers, Buffaloes, Dancers, Landscapes, Portraits and Wolves, with one print in each chapter being removable for framing and hand-signed and numbered by the artist. published by Marco Fine Arts

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Navajo
    May. 06, 2026

    John Nieto, Navajo

    Est: $800 - $1,200

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Navajo serigraph, edition 21 of 195 editioned lower left: 21/195 signed lower right: nieto

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Last American Survivor, 1982
    May. 06, 2026

    John Nieto, Last American Survivor, 1982

    Est: $1,000 - $2,000

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Last American Survivor, 1982 lithograph, edition 53 of 65 editioned left of lower center: 53/65 signed right of lower center: nieto

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • John Nieto, Wild Horse
    May. 06, 2026

    John Nieto, Wild Horse

    Est: $600 - $900

    John Nieto 1936 - 2018 Wild Horse serigraph, edition 36 of 195 editioned lower left: 36/195 signed lower right: Nieto

    Santa Fe Art Auction
  • JOHN NIETO "PORTRAIT OF ARMOND LARA" GRAPHITE ON PAPER
    May. 03, 2026

    JOHN NIETO "PORTRAIT OF ARMOND LARA" GRAPHITE ON PAPER

    Est: -

    John W. Nieto (1936 - 2018) "Portrait of Armond Lara" Graphite on Paper. Artist: John Nieto Title: "Portrait of Armond Lara" Medium: Graphite on Paper Signature Type: Hand Signed | Signature Location: Lower Center | Site Measurement: 8" x 8" | Keywords: Native American, Indian Artwork, Art; Ref: BD3276

    Bradford's
  • John Nieto (American 1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (American 1936-2018)

    Est: $150 - $300

    Red Cloud, serigraph and acrylic, numbered 98/195, numbered lower left, signed lower right, on panel. Unframed. Dimensions: 10 in. x 12 in.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto (American 1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (American 1936-2018)

    Est: $300 - $500

    Grizzly Bear, serigraph, printer's proof, numbered 20/55, signed lower right. Framed under glass. Dimensions: As framed 48 in. x 41 in, sight size 45 in. x 37 in.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto (American 1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (American 1936-2018)

    Est: $400 - $600

    Indian Portrait, serigraph, numbered 9/195 and signed lower right. Framed under glass. Dimensions: As framed 46 in. x 39 in., sight size 39 in. x 34 in.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto (American 1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (American 1936-2018)

    Est: $800 - $1,500

    "Spotted Horse", serigraph, numbered 39/150, and signed lower right. Framed under glass. Dimensions: As framed 37 in. x 45 in., sight size 35 in. x 42 in.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto (1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (1936-2018)

    Est: $800 - $1,500

    Untitled (Wolf), lithograph on paper, signed Nieto lower right and marked AP 4/50 lower left. Framed under glass Dimensions: As framed 54.5 x 45.5 inches., sight size 52 in. x 42 in. Condition: minor losses to silver leaf on frame in spots.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto (American 1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (American 1936-2018)

    Est: $800 - $1,500

    "Buffalo Medicine For The 90's", serigraph, numbered 9/195 lower left, signed lower right. Matted and framed under glass. Dimensions: As framed 43 in. x 36 in., sight size 38 in. x 32 in.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto (American 1936-2018)
    Apr. 24, 2026

    John Nieto (American 1936-2018)

    Est: $900 - $1,800

    Chief Rain in the Face, serigraph, from an edition of 150, numbered and signed lower left. 1989, serigraph in 49 colors, signed in pencil lower left, numbered 45/150, printed at Telos Graphics Workshop. Framed under glass. Dimensions: 38 in. x 41 in. as framed, sight size 25 in. x 38 in.

    Neue Auctions
  • John Nieto Keeps the Mountain
    Apr. 18, 2026

    John Nieto Keeps the Mountain

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    John Nieto (American, 1936-2018) Keeps the Mountain Acrylic on canvas 60 x 48 (in) 62 x 50 x 1.75 (in) framed Signed Nieto, lower left $30,000 - $50,000

    Larsen Art Auction
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