William Acheff is every bit as clever, colorful, and captivating as his still life paintings, which have earned him numerous awards, including two at the prestigious Prix de West Show, the first in 1989, the second in 2004, as well as the Masters of America West Purchase Award in 1998. A conversation with this talented artist reveals a commitment to creating art that is beautifully provocative, along with a delightful sense of humor.

Acheff’s talent reaches far beyond painting. He has remodeled several homes in Taos, New Mexico, where he has lived since 1973. He has a pilot’s license and a barber’s license. In fact, he still cuts his own hair, as well as that of a few friends. And years ago he had a bit part in a play that starred Ethel Merman.

His stories are endless—and told with great enthusiasm—but Acheff is best known for his paintings, still life scenes that feature Native American artifacts and that go far beyond the traditional.

William Acheff

Peaches
Oil
40″x30″
“I had this painting in mind for 30 or so years. I acquired the Curtis photo 10 or 12 years prior to painting it. I seemed to always be painting something else when peaches were in season; perhaps I just wasn’t ready.”

William Acheff

From Warrior to Welfare
Oil
26″x34″
“Sharp’s Ration Day On The Reservation was the inspiration for this painting. When I was painting the print, I noticed the bison skull hanging over the door of the office. I wondered if Sharp added that as a sign of why the Indians needed rations.”