#18 • Rie Muñoz "Reindeer Herd" Artist Proof c.1975

Part of The Works of Rie Muñoz Art Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $500.00

Status: Sold

Category: Art

A signed and numbered 1/5 Artist Proof silkscreen by Alaska artist Rie Muñoz entitled "Reindeer Herd". The image highlights a young man, staff in hand, while guiding a moving herd of eight mature reindeer across open grasslands. The work reflects Alaska's long history of reindeer herding, particularly in western and northern Alaska where herds became both an economic resource and cultural fixture for many Indigenous communities. The artist was hired in 1962 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to sketch the reindeer roundup on Nunivak Island; she and her son stayed for a month on the 40-square mile island. At the time, Nunivak had around 10,000 reindeer, and herders would go by foot to separate one to two thousand animals and herd them back to the villagers who would then form a human funnel to help herd the stampede of reindeer into a large corral. Titled, numbered, signed, and dated by the artist c.1975 across the lower margin. A few areas of discoloration are present as photographed. Shrink-wrapped on board measuring approximately 14" x 21" with a sight view of 12" x 18.75".