Indian Chief

Peter Miller

oil on canvas, 10 x 15 inches

Framed

American artist Peter Miller (1913-1996) was born Henrietta Myers in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She began using the name Peter Miller after concluding her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1934 and her marriage to fellow artist and Academy student Earle Miller in 1935. She felt collectors and critics would take her paintings more seriously if she was identified as a male. In childhood, Henrietta and her best friend Ruth picked fictitious nicknames for themselves, and Henrietta reportedly decided upon the name Peter because she liked the idea that it was derived from the Greek word for “rock” or “stone”. Drawn to being one with the natural world would prove to be an essential inspiration to her creativity throughout her life. Miller is classified as an American Modernist, a reputation she earned for having shown at the prestigious gallery and premiere showcase for Surrealist painting of Julien Levy in New York in the 1940s. Reviewers of her exhibitions noted the unmistakable influence of the artists Joan Miró, whose work she owned and whom she knew, and Arthur Carles, whom she studied with, and sources in Native American culture, which came from sharing time between her home state of Pennsylvania and New Mexico. Peter and her husband Earle considered New Mexico their spiritual home, and in 1935 they built a ranch in Española, about 25 miles north of Santa Fe. Being neighbors of the indigenous people of the Tewa Pueblo, their crafts and religious beliefs fascinated Peter and the reliance of Native Americans upon the land and the animals permeated her work for most of her career.

Additional work by this artist

The Ancients

The Ancients

Peter Miller
Midsummer Night

Midsummer Night

Peter Miller
The Journey

The Journey

Peter Miller
Time Piece

Time Piece

Peter Miller

Other works in Modern

Morris Blackman Orange Dot on Grey

Orange Dot on Grey

Morris Blackman
Morris Blackman Geometric Abstract VII Oil on Board 48x30 Lower Ceter 82 83 LR

Geometric Abstract VII

Morris Blackman
Winter

Winter

Peter Miller

Other works in Modernism

Tsankawi

Tsankawi

Peter Miller
Soul Shine

Soul Shine

Peter Miller
Battle Scene

Battle Scene

Peter Miller
IMG 3179 Spring 38 125 x 50 LR

Spring

Peter Miller

Other works in Sold

Top of the Hill canvas

Top of the Hill

Henry Bayley Snell
Cornish Cottage

Cornish Cottage

Walter Elmer Schofield
Autumn Nocturne

Autumn Nocturne

George William Sotter
Courtship

Courtship

Peter Miller

Other works in Sold Peter Miller

Light

Light

Peter Miller
Head

Head

Peter Miller
Wedding

Wedding

Peter Miller

Other works in Peter Miller Collection

Shields

Shields

Peter Miller
Tewa Vessels

Tewa Vessels

Peter Miller
Shields

Shields

Peter Miller
Magic Circle

Magic Circle

Peter Miller