Biography

Biography

Percy Sandy (Kai-Sa) was born in 1918 on the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico.  As a child, when Sandy first tried painting at school in Zuni, he amazed his teachers with his talent. His grandfather called him Kai Sa, and said his grandson would become an artist. Kai Sa went on to study art at the Indian School in Santa Fe but was largely self-taught. As a young adult, he illustrated books, including “Sun Journey” by Ann Nolan Clark, and was known as a muralist as well as a painter. His paintings of people, animals, and plants are detailed and striking.

 

In 1947 Kai-Sa had a solo exhibition at the Blue Door Art Gallery, which traveled to the Ebell Galleries in Los Angeles. Kai-Sa’s work is in collections at the Gilcrease Institute and the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona; the Indian Arts and Crafts Board in Washington, D.C.; the Museum of Northern Arizona; the Museum of New Mexico; and the United Pueblo Agency in New Mexico.

 

Sources:
The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico records.

 

Partial List of Collections

Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa
Philbrook Art Center, Tulsa
Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Indian Arts and Crafts Board in Washington DC              

Museum of New Mexico                                          

United Pueblo Agency in New Mexico

 

Kai-Sa at 203 Fine Art

Please follow the link below to view the online catalogue for the 2021-22 exhibition Discovered Gems, Artwork from The Helene Wurlitzer Collection, which includes works by this artist

https://issuu.com/203fineart.com/docs/discovered_gems_-_catalogue

Works
  • Kai-Sa, Eagle Dancer, ca. 1950
    Kai-Sa
    Eagle Dancer, ca. 1950
    Graphite on paper
    68.6 x 55.9 cm
    Front
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Pueblo Man Climbing Ladder, ca. 1950
    Kai-Sa
    Pueblo Man Climbing Ladder, ca. 1950
    Gouache on paper
    56.5 x 45.7 cm
    Front
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Corn Dancers, c.1950s
    Kai-Sa
    Corn Dancers, c.1950s
    Gouache on paper
    35.6 x 45.7 cm
    front
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Zuni Long Horn Dancer, ca. 1950
    Kai-Sa
    Zuni Long Horn Dancer, ca. 1950
    Gouache on paper
    50.8 x 40.6 cm
    front
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Climbing Out of Kiva with Swallow in Sky, 1947-1959
    Kai-Sa
    Climbing Out of Kiva with Swallow in Sky, 1947-1959
    Gouache and watercolor on paper
    52.1 x 62.9 cm
    front bottom right corner
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Yellow Figure Wearing Fox Pelt, 1947-1959
    Kai-Sa
    Yellow Figure Wearing Fox Pelt, 1947-1959
    Gouache and watercolor on paper
    36.8 x 30.5 cm
    Front bottom left ccorner
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Kneeling Figure Making Offering, 1947-1959
    Kai-Sa
    Kneeling Figure Making Offering, 1947-1959
    Gouache and watercolor on paper
    30.5 x 22.9 cm
    Front bottom right corner
    Sold
  • Kai-Sa, Dancer Outside Kiva, 1947-1959
    Kai-Sa
    Dancer Outside Kiva, 1947-1959
    Gouache and watercolor on paper
    56.5 x 63.5 cm
    Front bottom center
    Sold
Exhibitions