Bronze "Great Spirit Buffalo" 26/30, by Phillip Haozous (Apache)

This bronze sculpture of a buffalo, by Phillip Haozous, is titled "Great Spirit Buffalo." It is one in a series of abstract/realist buffalo and is the 26th cast of a limited 30. The series also comprises of a large scale stone scuplture, a large scale bronze, and a small bronze cast buffalo titled "Little One". In this series, Phillip features one side of the sculpture in a realistic and classic style, representing the grand physical depiction of the buffalo, while on the opposite side he has formed the bronze into a Modernist representation; expressing the buffalo's spirit and motion.

This marriage of abstraction and realism is what he finds to be a way of connecting his personal art with the traditions of his native culture. Phillip is most notably recognized for his modernist style which follows in the tradition of his father's highly regarded work. Several pieces of Phillip's buffalo series have been presented at many reputable organizations, including the large scale bronze sculpture titled "Great Spirit Buffalo II" at The Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

As one of the sons of renowned sculptor Allan Houser, Phillip Haozous grew up surrounded by art, but took an indirect path to his own artistic career.  After serving in the Air Force where he specialized in developing radar systems, Phillip went on to work in theater and film, as a jeweler, and as the administrator and designer of his family's sculpture garden and studio.  When he began to experiment with sculpting, Phillip says that "Allan was very patient with me and was always there to offer words of encouragement.... He said that if I decided to take up sculpture as a profession, I could be very successful.  I still feel his support and hear his words of encouragement."  It wasn't until the late 1990s, after his father's death, that Phillip began to develop this talent.  Finding some left over clay in his father's studio, he worked with it until he created his first piece, Athanacious Embrace, in 1999.

Height 6", length 9 3/4", width 3 3/4"
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