Native American artist Maria Adelicia is of San Juan pueblo descent from San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico. This beautiful black pottery starts with white clay made from the finest materials available. Every line on each piece is hand painted, then high fired at 2000+ degrees Fahrenheit.

Check for work by this artist in our Pueblo Pottery section!

Rafaelita & Darlene Aguilar are full blooded Native American Indians who were born into the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Rafaelita was born in 1937 and Darlene was born in 1960.They are a Mother and Daughter who have teamed up to combine their efforts and creativity to continue a long lived tradition of hand coiling ancient traditional style of black on black pottery. Rafaelita was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from her mother, Miguelita Aguilar. Miguelita passed down all the fundamentals of working with clay and using ancient methods. Rafaelita in turn shared the knowledge with Darlene. Today they both work together as a team, hand coiling pottery and enjoying each others company.

They specialize in hand coiling the large black on black and red traditional Santo Domingo pottery. The elements used to hand make these wonderful pieces are all provided to them from Mother Earth. The clay is gathered from within the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Then, the clay is soaked, cleaned, mixed, hand coiled, shaped, sanded, painted, and fired outdoors, with straw, bark, and manure. They sign their pottery as: Rafaelita & Darlene Aguilar, S.D. P. They are related to the following artists: Marie C. Aragon (aunt) and Vidal E. Aguilar (cousin).

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Frederica Antonio is a full blooded Native American Indian who was born in 1968 into the Acoma Pueblo. Frederica was inspired to continue the long lived family tradition of making pottery by her mother-in-law, Mildred Antonio. Frederica developed an interest in pottery making while observing Mildred hand-coil and paint on her pottery. Mildred taught Frederica all the fundamentals of pottery making. Frederica began making pottery at the age of 18.

Frederica specializes in contemporary hand coiled pottery with hand painted intricate eye dazzling designs. She fashions a brush from the stems of a yucca plant to paint her eye dazzling designs. She also paints a band on the side of her pottery with kokopelli (god of fertility). She also paints using different colors of paint so the pottery gives you a unique three dimensional effect. She hand coils a variety of sizes and styles, every one of her pots is a one of a kind work of art; there are no two pieces alike. She signs her masterpieces as: F.V. Antonio, Acoma, N.M. Frederica is also related to Melissa Antonio (cousin).

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Awards:

-2000 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-1999 New Mexico State Fair Honorable Mention

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-Gallup Inter Tribal Ceremonies Honorable Mention

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Jose M. Antonio is a full blooded Native American Indian from the Roadrunner Clan.  He was born into the Acoma Pueblo on March 13, 1966.   He credits his mother, Hilda Antonio, known for her hand sculpted owls, and his grandmother, Eva Histia, for his inspiration.  They taught him all the fundamentals of working with clay art using the ancient traditional hand coiling methods.  He was a natural at painting his designs at a very young age.

Jose specializes in authentic hand coiled and hand painted polychrome jars and bowls.  He gathers the raw clumps of clays from the Acoma Pueblo along with the natural vegetation which is used for making the natural colors used to paint the designs.  He begins by breaking  the clumps of clay and cleaning it until it reaches a fine medium.   Then, the clay is mixed with water and other natural pigments and thus begins the hand coiling process.  He rolls out snake like coils stacking each coil carefully to build the shape of the vessel.  Once the vessel has been shaped and formed it is set out to dry.  Then, he begins working on the natural vegetation that he has gathered such as, spinach plant which provides the black color, and various other plants that provide more vibrant colors.   A yucca stem is fashioned into a brush for painting the designs.  Once the vessel has dried he sands it for a smooth painting surface.  Then, he boils his pigments and plant life to form just the right colors.  He finally starts the authentic hand painting process on his vessel.  He enjoys painting feathers and fineline designs.  Once the painting has been complete and the paint has dried Jose  fires his pottery in a kiln.  His family is well known for their exquisite hand painted traditional designs.  He signs his pottery as:  J. Antonio, Acoma.  

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Melissa Antonio, member of the Red Corn Clan and the Sun Clan, was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1965. She  was raised in the traditional way and was taught to respect the Mother Earth, all its creatures, and the clay that it provides. She sparked an interest in becoming an artisan by observing her mother, Lillie Concho, at the age of 12. Lillie taught Melissa the process of gathering clay, preparing the clay, and making natural colors from other natural pigments which were gathered from within the Acoma Pueblo. By the time Melissa reached the age of 23, her skills had improved and her art reflected her experience as a fine artisan.

Melissa specializes in hand coiling the traditional black on white eye dazzler patterns. Her pottery is all constructed by methods used by her ancestors. Melissa will accent her pottery by adding a kokopelli band down the side of her pottery on occasion. She signs her pottery as: M.C. Antonio, Acoma.

Awards:

-1992 New Mexico State Fair 1st & 2nd Place

-1993 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-1994 New Mexico State Fair 1st place

-Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonies

-1996 Eight Northern Pueblos Art Show 1st place  -1997 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Mildred Antonio, member of the Eagle Clan, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1937. She was inspired to learn the art of working with clay at the age of 15. Mildred watched her aunt, Marie Torivio, construct her pottery and this sparkedan interest in her. Marie taught her all the fundamentals of working with clay using ancient traditional methods. Mildres has also been to several art shows to view the art of other pottery artists and gather some ideas for her own work.

Mildred specializes in the hand coiled traditional Acoma pottery. She is known for her swirl patterns, checker board patterns, and wild antelpe designs incorporated with flowers. She gathers her clay from within the Acoma Pueblo. The clay is hand soaked, cleaned hand mixes, hand coiled, hand sanded, hand painted, and fired outdoors, with natural pigments. Mildred gathers natural flowers and other pigments to boil her own colors on her masterpieces. Mildred signs her pottery as: M. Antonio, Acoma. She is related to the following artists: Santana Antonio (mother-in-law), Milissa Antonio (daughter-in-law), and Frederica Antonio (daughter-in-law).

Awards:

-1991 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Publications:

-Indian Artist Magazine

-Southwestern Indian Pottery 1999 Edition

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Deborah. Aragon, “Shri’My To Wi”, was born into the Pueblo of Acoma in 1963.

She began learning the art of pottery making at the age of 15. Deborah was inspired to continue the family tradition of making her pottery by her grandmother, the late Helen R. Vallo. Deborah often observed Helen’s hand coiling and painting techniques using traditional using all natural pigments.

Deborah specializes in contemporary stone polished and etched Horse Hair Pottery, otherwise known as “Greenware” or unfired pottery. Deborah randomly throws authentic horse hair on her pottery while its still hot and then, she removes the hair and she polishes her pottery with a stone. She also etches animals and geometric patterns on her pottery free hand. Her style of pottery has a unique Grey shaded color in comparison to the other horse hair pottery available today. She signs her pottery as: D. Aragon, Acoma.

Deborah is related to the following artists: Rose Chino, Grace Chino, and Helen Vallo (grandmothers). Michael and Robyn Romero (Brother-in-Law and Sister).

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-1998 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Horsehair Pottery section!

Acoma artists Diane & Wilbert Jr. Aragon use an airbrush to create the graduated color schemes in their pieces and then hand etch beautiful designs like kachinas, kokopellis and headdresses. Diane was born in 1965 into the Laguna Pueblo and has been working with pottery since she was 20. Junior was born into the Acoma pueblo in 1966 and has been working with pottery since he was 23. They sign their work as JR Diane Aragon, Laguna, Acoma Pueblo NM.

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Rachel Aragon is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1938 into the Acoma Pueblo. Rachel is a member of the Eagle Clan. Rachel was encouraged and inspired to learn the art of working with clay at the age of 10 from her mother, Lupe Araon. Lupe shared with Rachel all the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery using ancient traditional methods. Rachel graduated from High School in 1958 and then began pursuing a career in working with clay on a more professional level.

Rachel specializes in hand coiled traditional fertility pottery. She gathers her clay from within the Acoma Pueblo. Then, she soaks the clay, grinds the clay, cleans the clay, hand mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, and hand paints the pottery, using natural pigments which she boils together to produce the natural colors she paints with. Then, she fires her pottery outdoors, with wood chips. She is well known for her light weight pottery and her beautiful hand painted designs. She signs her pottery as: Rachel Aragon, Acoma, N.M. Rachel is related to: Mary Trujillo (sister), Emma Chino (cousin), Marie Torivio (cousin), Carol Loretto, and Geraldine Sando (nieces).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Ralph Aragon is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the San Felipe Pueblo and married into the Zia Pueblo, where he has lived for the past twenty years. As long as he can remember, Ralph has had the desire to create his own unique style of art. With traditional upbringing instilled in Ralph, he has learned to respect the beauty of nature  which is evident in his animal motifs and earth tone palettes, which are abundantly used in his art. Over the years, Ralph has experimented with his own unique style of painting. He combines contemporary painting techniques with traditional Zia pottery designs, in order to obtain the rock art images and patterns that are associated with social and spiritual themes. Ralph is a strong believer in continuing the traditional ways of his people.

Ralph studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico., In addition, his own quest for a unique way to express his creativity has led him successfully to hand paint shields, pottery, and gourds. Because of this, he has created “something different” for us to enjoy and images that “help preserve his culture and heritage”. He specializes in hand painting handmade pottery using acrylic paints. He signs his pottery as: R. Aragon, incorporated with a Kiva step style, which is a celebration of Pueblo life and the festivities of harvest time.

Ralph is related to Dora Tse’Pe.

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-Eighth Northern Pueblos Exhibit

-Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Martha Arquero was born in 1944 into the Cochiti Pueblo. She has been making pottery sculptures since the late 1960’s. Martha was inspired to continue the family tradition of clay sculpting by her Mother, Damacia Cordero. Damacia taught her daughter all the fundamentals of clay sculpting that her Mother taught her.

Martha specializes in handmade clay sculptures like mermaids, frog storytellers, nativity’s, and traditional storytellers. She uses all natural pigments to hand coil her sculptures. Martha gathers her clay from the hills nearby her home. She learned how to clean, soak, mix, shape, sand the sculpture for the right texture, and fire her sculpture the traditional way, outdoors. The colors Martha uses on her sculptures are also made from natural vegetables and minerals that Mother Earth provides for her. Martha signs her sculptures as: Martha Arquero, Cochiti.

Martha is related to the following artists: Josephine Arquero, and Marie Laweka (sisters).

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place 1984

Publications:

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

-The Pueblo Storyteller

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

-Talking with the Clay

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Ambrose Atencio is a full blooded Native American Indian, who was born into the Santo Domingo Pueblo on June 11, 1963.  He learned the art of working with clay by observing his family members who were fine established artisans. He was taught all the fundamentals of working with clay using the ancient traditional methods. The lucrative aspect of the business was why Ambrose initially began to construct these fine vessels, but now he continues to practice his methods of hand coiling pottery to preserve the ancient traditional way of his ancestors and adds to their legacy.

He specializes in hand coiled, hand painted traditional Santo Domingo pottery. He gathers all his raw materials such as clay, sand, and natural plants from within the Santo Domingo Pueblo. He hand cleans the clay for impurities, mixes all the natural pigments with water, and begins hand coiling his vessels. Once the pottery is dry he sands the finished product to give it a smooth finish all around the vessel. Ambrose then begins to hand paint his beautiful designs with a stem of a yucca that has been fashioned into a brush. The colors he uses on his designs are also provided from plants such as: spinach plant and honey bee wax. His designs are usually the traditional bird, flowers, or geometric designs. He sets his pottery out to dry and then fires his masterpieces the traditional way, outdoors. He signs his pottery as: Ambrose Atencio Kewa, Santo Domingo Pueblo, and the year it was constructed.

He is related to the following artists: Hilda Coriz (sister), Arthur Coriz (late brother-in-law), Robert Tenorio (uncle), and Ione Coriz (cousin).

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Starr is the daughter of Henry and Jane Baca. She has won FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE ribbons at the SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET AND The eight Northern Pueblos Show!  The Tafoya Family of Santa Clara Pueblo has been producing their famous Black wear pottery for generations. They use only natural Clays and slips found on the Reservation.

Johanna and Anthony work together on each piece they create. This art form was learned from well known artist Corn Moquino. They have 17 years of experience and work only with traditional methods. They do not enter their work for awards. While their work is of higher quality than many well known potters, they maintain a low profile status. They typically make traditional Santa Clara pottery with the serpent design.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Wilma Baca, “New Wheat”, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Pueblo of the Jemez in 1967. Wilma was inspired to make pottery by her grandmother, Marie Reyes Shendo. Marie taught Wilma all the fundamentals of constructing pottery using ancient methods passed down to her from her ancestors. Wilma experimented with clay at the age of 5. She hand coils small bowls and outdoor ovens, and has continued to enjoy working with clay.

Wilma specializes in the natural hand coiled and etched Jemez pottery. Wilma gathers her clay from the grounds within the Jemez Pueblo. Then, she soaks the clay, grinds the clay, sifts, mixes, hand coils, shapes, paints, etches her pottery, and finally, fires her pottery outdoors using the wood chip firing method. She has been etching on pottery since 1989, and she does all the etching free hand. She doesn’t use templates at all. Her favorite pottery piece to coil is the wedding vase, because of its meaning: “The spouts representing two separate lives, the bridge at the top part unites these separate lives as one.” Wilma signs her pottery as: Wilma L. Baca, followed by the corn sign.

Wilma is also related to the following artists: Carol Vigil, Imagene Shendo (cousins) and Mildred Shendo.

Awards:

-2000 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Angel is originally from the Jemez Pueblo, but married into the Santo Domingo, where here husband, Ralph, is from. She has been making pottery since 1979. She was taught by her mother, Marie Coriz, and specializes in storytellers, nativity sets, and necklaces. She signs each piece A & R Bailon.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Calvin Begay is an award winning artist, jeweler, designer and master craftsman. He was born in Gallup, New Mexico in 1965 and raised in Tohatchi, northwestern New Mexico.

Calvin designed his first piece of jewelry at age 10, learning from his mother and uncle. In more than 20 years as a jewelry designer and craftsman, he has become a master in every aspect of the design and manufacturing process. He has won numerous awards at the Gallup Inter Tribal Ceremonial, including Best of Show in 1989. His jewelry has been featured in Arizona Highways and Southwest Art Magazines.

This gifted artist continually innovates and updates his designs, working in both gold and silver, and adding new motifs and stones to his repertoire.In his leisure time, Calvin participates in rodeos and rides in the back country in his all terrain vehicles. When he creates jewelry, that wild free spirit finds expression in precious metals and stone.

He has a unique ability to translate traditional Navajo inlay techniques into jewelry that reflects his Native American heritage, yet have elegant and contemporary flair. Calvin's work is prized by clients and collectors, not only in the Southwest, but throughout the United Stated and the world. In the artistry of Calvin Begay, the stunning beauty of the untamed West is reflected in the combination of color and design that create unforgettable pieces of wearable art.

Click here to see all available Calvin Begay jewelry

Joseph Begay is a full blooded Native American Indian born into the Navajo Nation in 1964. He learned the art of carving on stones from his friend, Jeff Lewis. Joseph began carving on stone at the age of 22. The lucrative aspect of the business played a key roll in him becoming an fine artisan. It is his primary resource of income to support his family.

Joseph works with natural materials found through out the southwest. The materials that he primarily carves from are: alabaster, serpentine, picasso marble, jet, dolomite, amber, argyte, and sillonite. His distinctive animals include life-like representations of bears, turtles, eagles, coyotes, buffalos, and several others. His carvings are enhanced by either a solid or multi-color inlaid heartline or a prayer bundle containing arrows, feathers, and heshi that he places on the backs of his carvings. Joseph is proud and honored to be artistically gifted with this special talent. He is also extremely enthusiastic about sharing his carvings with all who respect and appreciate his artistic abilities and his cultural background. He signs his carvings as: J.B.

Wallace N. Begay was born and raised at Tolani Lake, AZ just east of the San Francisco Peaks. Begay herded sheep as well as tended the family’s cattle and horses. Begay was born in 1957 during the early stages of the modernization of the Navajo reservation. Like many other Navajo kids, Begay attended a BIA Boarding school at Leupp, AZ. During  his immersion in the English culture, Begay began to draw using charcoal, pencil and eventually watercolors. Quincy Tahoma and Harrison Begay had achieved prominence in Indian art with their flat “Bambi” style of paint application. Many young Navajo artists emulated this technique, including Begay. However, Begay gradually began experimenting with texture created by charcoal. When Begay left Boarding School for High School at Windowrock, he had a substantial amount of training in the use of graphite, charcoal and watercolors. Art classes at  Windowrock opened new avenues of art in acrylic and oil painting, etching basic sculpture. Begay won many awards and began to sell his pieces.

 After High School, Begay attended college at Arizona State University where he was noted for his watercolor paintings. Begay left ASU temporarily and graduated from Maricopa Community College with an AA degree. Again, his art won student art shows. He later finished his studies in marketing at ASU. Begay worked as an Art Director for a feature magazine called “Navaho”. Shortly after that, Begay returned to college at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he was a senior majoring in painting and sculpture.

Awards: Begay has won several first prize awards beginning in 1982 at Gallup New Mexico’s Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Art Show, including one for pencil during the 1996 show. He has also won best in oil and watercolor categories at the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Navajo Show. Begay has won numerous recognition awards from the city of Gallup, New Mexico, University of Arizona Navajo County Fair and the Affiliation of Arizona Indian Centers, Inc. of Phoenix, AZ. Begay’s work has been featured in publications such as ENDURING TRADITION: Art of the Navajos by Lois and Jerry Jacka.

Art Style and Philosophy: “The perpetuation of the Navajo language and culture is important. I believe Native Americans have yet to see their true place in the modern art world as Chagall, Rivera O’Keffee, or Dali. My images are more surrealistic: realistic images in a deliberate dreamscape. I use traditional symbols to talk about the erosion of our culture but only to draw attention, discussion and hopefully resolution. I use painting, scratch board etching, graphite, wood and stone to express these ideas. Being a Native American artist of my generation carries a responsibility of communicating with the younger generations. They look to us for answers and inspiration. If we project the same clinched images, and worry only about the marketability on our art, we will fail. Our responsibility is to teach and carry on the culture, to replace our elders, but in this case, with the education of modern America.” W.N. Begay

Westly was born into the Navajo Nation in 1965. He was taught by his long time companion, Marie Francis Vallo, an Acoma potter who is the mother of Leland, Kim and Thomas Vallo. Westly's work is a fusing of Navajo and Acoma traditions. He has developed his own unique style, giving his pots an amazing contemporary flare. He is well know for his beautiful parrot, flute player and lizard designs. He continues to grow as an artist and is gaining in popularity among mainstream collectors.

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Sasha Bluesky is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1972 into the Navajo Nation. Sasha grew up with solid Southwestern traditions and many different styles of art. His mother owned a shop in the Old Town Plaza and Sasha was introduced to clay art at a very young age. While Sasha Visited his mother at her store, he would wander for hours studying and admiring the beautiful art surrounding him. He credits Joseph Lonewolf for his interest in becoming an artisan. Joseph’s work always inspired him and he wanted to develop his own style of miniature art and become just a famous. He learned all the fundamentals of working with clay by asking questions and experimenting with natural pigments on his own. He also is a professional tattoo artist.

Sasha specializes in handmade stone polished, hand carved, and hand painted miniature clay art. His carvings include kachinas, animals, and feather patterns. He enjoys nature and that’s where his inspiration and creativity come from. He also enjoys working with miniature art because the challenge of working with clay becomes more intricate and minute. The details, shapes, and carvings within each piece is simply spectacular once completed. He signs his pottery as: Sasha Bluesky, Navajo. He is related to Whirling Wind who is his father.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

Birdell Bourdon, “Vine Flower”, was born in 1957 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. Birdell was motivated and inspired to continue the long lived family tradition of hand coiling pottery using ancient methods from her Mother, the late Marie Sisneros. Marie was a Professor at the World College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Marie taught Birdell all the fundamentals of pottery making the traditional way of her ancestors. Birdell has been making pottery since the of age 10. The lucrative aspect of the business encouraged Birdell to become an artist.

Birdell specializes in the hand coiled Santa Clara black polished pottery. She gathers clay from the Tribal clay pits within the Santa Clara Pueblo. Then, she cleans, mixes hand coils, shapes, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors with saw dust. She coils many different sizes and shapes, like wedding vases and bowls. She also makes melon patterns on her pottery. Birdell is a fine potter whose art is crafted very well. She is presently mentoring her children with the traditional ways of making pottery so they too may have a prolific future artistically if they need to fall back on the business of making pottery. Birdell signs her pottery as: Birdell, Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico.

Publications:

-Working with Clay

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Cyndee Sandia Brophy Toledo, “New Snow”, member of the Sun Clan, was born in 1957. She is half Jemez and half Tesuque. Cyndee was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making by several of her family members. Tradition is an extremely high priority in her life. At the age of 10 she began experimenting with pottery. When she reached the age of 18 her interest in pursuing a career as an artisan had become much stronger.

Cyndee specializes in handmade natural story pots and natural seed pots. She constructs her pottery by the “pinch & coil” method. She gathers all her materials from within the hills of the Jemez Pueblo. She hand cleans the clay, mixes, hand pinches, shapes, paints and fires her pottery, outdoors. Every piece of her pottery tells the story of the circle of life. The birds of paradise reflect the male courting the female with flowers. Baskets filled with food represent the food of life. The rain represents showers of blessings. The elegant swans represent the gracefulness of life, hummingbirds and insects represent pollination for fullness in life in all the directions of the wind within the steps of life. Cyndee has established herself an a fine artisan, and continues to grow with experience as time passes on. Cyndee is related to Art & Rose Sandia (parents). She signs her pottery as: Cyndee Brophy, Jemez, NM, followed by a title of her work and year it was made.

Awards:

-1978 Towa Arts Honorable Mention

-1979 Towa Arts Honorable Mention

-1981 Towa Arts Honorable Mention

Publications:

-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Mary Cain is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1915 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She began hand coiling traditional Santa Clara pottery in 1930. According to Mary, “Pottery has been a part of her family heritage since as long as her great grandmother can recall.” Mary’s mother, Cristina Naranjo, inspired and encouraged her to continue the long lived tradition of working with clay. Her grandmother, Serafina Tafoya, was also a great inspiration to her. Mary can trace her roots back to great, great grandparents Sarafina and Geronimo Tafoya.

Mary specializes in traditional hand coiled black on black or red Santa Clara hand polished pottery, with carvings of water serpents and bear paws. Mary says, “I love the work and will continue to do this for as long as I can.”

Publications:

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Talking with the Clay

-Southwest Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place

-Eighth Northern Pueblo Exhibit 1st & 2nd Place

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Aaron Cajero is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1966 into the Jemez Pueblo. Aaron is a member of the Fire Clan. He began working with clay art in 1993. He learned the traditional way of hand coiling pottery using ancient methods by the members of his family. They taught him all the fundamentals of working with clay artforms. Aaron was quoted as saying: “I enjoy working with pottery because it’s an expression of how I feel about the beauty in nature and native American arts using all natural materials with mother earth has blessed us with”.

Aaron specializes in a very unique style of pottery which is a contemporary hand polished style. He harvests his natural slips and clumps of raw clay from within the Jemez Pueblo. He breaks down the clumps of clay and adds sand to temper the clay and hand mixes with water and begins the hand coiling process the traditional way, which is rolling out the  moist clay into snake like coils. Once his vessels are formed he sets them out to dry. Once his pieces are fully dried Aaron sands his vessels for a smooth finish. He hand carves various designs such as: bears, feathers, eagles, and serpents known as Avanyu’s which are believed to protect Pueblo People. He stone polishes his pieces to give it a beautiful shine. Aaron also fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors with cedar woodchips. He signs his pottery as: Aaron Cajero, Jemez. He is related to: Joe Cajero (father), Esther Cajero (mother), Joe, Jr., Cajero (brother), Joetta Cajero, Loretta  Cajero (sisters), Anita Cajero (spouse), Teri Cajero (daughter), and Aaron Cajero, Jr. (son).

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place 2000

-Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market Honorable Mention 

Anita Cajero is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1965 into the Jemez Pueblo, she is a member of the Sun Clan. Anita began experimenting with clay at the age of 3, she learned all the fundamentals of working with natural pigments and slips from her  family members and friends. Anita graduated with a BA from New Mexico Highlands University in 1983.

              Anita specializes in hand sculpted and hand painted clay figurines, and traditional hand coiled pottery. She gathers her natural materials  from within the Jemez Pueblo. Once her materials are harvested Anita breaks down the clumps of clay and temper, then, she mixes them together to begin the process of constructing her beautiful  storytellers and fine pottery. She uses the pinch and coil method to build her figurines a similar technique to hand coiling. Once her figurine has been formed she allows the piece to dry. Once it has dried Anita uses a piece of sand paper to smooth out the rough edges. Finally, she is ready to hand paint using a stem of  a yucca plant which is fashioned into a brush. When she is done with the painting she fires her pottery either the traditional way, outdoors, or in a kiln. Anita enjoys making clay figurines because it is a way to express the Pueblo Culture. She signs her art as: Anita Cajero, Jemez. She is related to John Carrillo (father), Teresita Loretto (mother), Aaron Cajero, Sr. (spouse), Julie Loretto, Felicia Loretto (sisters), Leonora Loretto (grandmother), Esther Cajero (mother-in-law), Teri Cajero (daughter), and Aaron Cajero, Jr. (son).

Awards:

-Eighth Northern Pueblo Indian Market

-Santa Fe Indian Market

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery

-Directory of Artists

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

Esther Cajero, “Bird Image”, member of the Fire Clan, was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1944. She signed up for a pottery class in college and that’s where her interest in pottery making was sparked. In 1980 she started experimenting with pottery again, while watching her Grandmother, Petra C. Romero, hand coil her pottery.

Esther specializes in handmade storytellers, clay sculptures, and can hand coil pottery. She digs up her own clay, mixes, shapes, paints, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Esther uses all natural clays and natural paints. Sometimes Esther will accent her storytellers with a parasol to add a little flare. She customizes to special orders upon request. Esther signs her pottery as: E. Cajero, Bird Image, Jemez, followed by a title which she calls her figurines. Esther is related to the following artists: Joe V. Cajero, Jr. (son), and Gabriel Cajero (nephew).

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-Heard Museum Art Show

-Colorado Indian Market

-Red Earth Indian Market

-Santa Monica Indian Market

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

Emery Calabaza was born in 1958 into the Santo Domingo Pueblo. He was inspired on his own to make jewelry. He began hand making his jewelry in 1973 at the age of 15. Emery is a self taught jeweler. He was also inspired by his creativity and economic motivation.

Emery specializes in hand cut wafer stone jewelry. He will search for raw chunks of turquoise or jet (hardened coal). He slices and grinds down the chunks of stone into small flat round wafers that he can string into beautiful necklaces, and earrings. Emery’s quality of work in wafer stone cutting is one of the finest you can find today. He makes the single, double, and triple strand necklaces. Emery does not sign his name on his work because it is impossible to carve it anywhere on his jewelry.

Emery is related to the following artists: Lita Lovato (cousin) and Thomas Calabaza (uncle).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1996 2nd place

Hubert Candelaria, “Butterfly”, was born into the San Felipe Pueblo in 1965. He was inspired to continue a long lived tradition of working with clay by the late Maria Martinez, who was well known for her black on black pottery, and Nancy Youngblood. Hubert is a self taught artist. He began working with clay at the age of 21. He experimented with different types of clay until he found his own unique style. He admired Maria’s work and hoped that someday he could develop his own unique style to the art world. He has established himself as a fine artisan and has reached his goal of adding his own style to the art world.

Hubert specializes in hand coiled contemporary swirl, puzzle pots, and holey pots with sharp rounded ridges. He gathers his clay from the grounds within the San Felipe Pueblo. Hubert hand cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, and fires his pottery in a kiln. He has established a reputation of a fine artsman. Hubert signs his pottery as: Hubert Candelaria, San Felipe Pueblo, followed by the date the pottery was made.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-Gallup Intertribal

Publications:

-Southwest Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Myrtle Cata is a full blooded Native American Indian, member of the Turquoise Clan, who was born in 1953. She is part San Felipe and part San Juan Pueblo. She was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery from within her heart. The lucrative aspect of the business was also inspiration for her decision to become an artist. She has been hand coiling pottery since 1979. She attended many art classes to learn the art of working with clay. While going to school, she developed a friendship with Tina Garcia from the Santa Clara Pueblo. They shared special techniques and learned each other’s methods of working with clay.

Myrtle specializes in contemporary hand coiled San Juan style pottery. Her pottery style is simple in appearance. It is thin walled, graceful, and undecorated. She gathers her clay from within the San Juan Pueblo. Then, she cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, and fires her pottery, outdoors. She signs her pottery as: Myrtle Cata, San Juan Pueblo. Myrtle is a very creative artist that expands her creativity in many directions. She constructs men’s head dresses among many of her other creations.

Awards:

-1986 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd place

-1997 Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial 1st place

-1998 Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial 1st place

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 4th Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Sophie is the daughter of Francis Salazar and comes from a long line of women potters. Flora Naranjo, a well known Santa Clara potter,  is her grandmother. She resides in the San Juan Pueblo and makes the traditional Santa Clara Black deep carved pottery. She makes mouths of her pottery in square, triangular, and circular shapes. Her designs include kiva steps, clouds, mountains, and many other traditional Santa Clara designs.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Joe Cate is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1944 into the Santo Domingo Pueblo.  He was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand making jewelry from his ancestors using ancient methods of constructing the fine jewelry. The lucrative aspect of the business also encouraged him to become a jewelry artist.

Santo Domingo jewelers have an incredible history of creating essentially the same type of jewelry perhaps for thousands of years.  Joe colaborates with his wife, Rosey and they specialize in turquoise and heishi necklaces in which each bead is authentically handmade giving each piece an individual incredible feel. Their designs of the stone mosiac and shell earrings that they creates are beautiful, and while they look very contemporary, the designs are very ancient. He learned all the fundamentals of working with raw nuggets of various stones at a very young age.  Joe is related to: Joe Cate, Sr. & Crucita Cate (parents), Rosey cate (spouse), and Arvin Cate.

Awards:

-1995 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

Publications:

-American Indian Jewelry 1 1,200 Artist

Barbara & Joseph Cerno are full blooded Native Americans. Barbara was born in 1951 and is half Acoma and half Hopi. Joseph was born in 1947 into the Acoma Pueblo. Joseph was exposed to art at a very young age by his Mother and Grandmother They both were recognized coast to coast as prolific and established artisans. Joseph was exposed to their excellent craftsmanship and traditional ancient designs. His participation in the process of pottery making was not encouraged. However, he was intrigued by the designs and shapes of ancient pottery made by his ancestors. Joseph & Barbara are, essentially self taught artists. They are among some of the finest potter’s of our era.

Barbara & Joseph specialize in handmade traditional Acoma pottery. The clay is gathered within the Acoma Pueblo grounds. All the materials used to make their pottery is from Mother Earth. They clean, mix, coil, shape, sand, paint, and fire the pottery outdoors, just like their ancestors before them. They both participate and contribute equally while making their pottery. They are especially known for their brilliant and large olla pots, with painted patterns of traditional brilliant parrots. They have studied the ancient pottery shards found within the many ruins in their Pueblo, so that they keep within the traditional styles of their ancestors. They have dedicated many hours of trial and error in perfecting the skill and artistry necessary to make quality pottery. Joseph and Barbara are widely recognized as the creators of pottery products that truly reflect the traditional styling of their Indian Ancestors. They have proudly demonstrated their skills in many events and they have conducted several seminars under the auspices of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center of Cortez, CO. This has allowed them to extend their field of research into the the Museum of Western New Mexico University, which is recognized as one of the outstanding  repositories of the Mimbres Cultures. They have won many awards in which are too numerous to list. The quality of these potter’s will endure for eternity.

They have also introduced their children to the art of making pottery, the traditional  way. They are very proud of their children who have won numerous awards and are establishing themselves as quality artists. They sign their pottery as: Acoma, NM, Barbara & Joseph Cerno, followed by the year the pot was made.

Awards:

-Too many awards to list

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-American Indian Pottery 2nd Ed.

-Beyond Tradition

-Soutwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Renee Charley is a full blooded native American Indian.  Her father is silversmith Thomas Charley.  She was born in White Horse Lake, NM then moved to Grants and began making Kachinas and Artifacts.  Since 2001, Renee has been making headdresses and artifacts in Albuquerque.  Renee has four kids, ages 12, 10, 4 and 18 months.

Check for work by this artist in our Artifacts section!

Thomas Charley is full blooded Native American Indian.  He was born in in 1952 into the Navajo Reservation.  He was born and raised in Crownpoint, New Mexico.  He has been creating jewelry since 1977.  He specializes in his own unique contemporary style that he has developed on his own.  His style is both stylish and very dramatic while still having all the character and ethics of his forefathers that introduced him into the business.  Thomas’ jewelry features  strong sterling silver links over which he has placed a wide row of domed silver bars that create a type of rope motif.  Quite cleverly done, because by constructing it in this manner the jewelry is much, much lighter weight (and wears comfortably) than if it were of a solid casting style.  Then, on the either side of his bracelets specifically the big ropes are two smaller ropes of twisted wire done by carefully wrapping two pieces of sterling silver around one another, set in a polished frame.  His earrings, watches, rings, bracelets, concho belts, and bolo ties are all easily recognized by his beautiful sterling silver designs.  His masterpieces are very stylish, elegant, and oh so sophisticated.  He has always signed his jewelry with his logo TC Sterling.  Thomas is related to: Bessie and Doris Charley (sisters), Renee Charley (daughter) and Al Charley (brother) who also are known for their fine craftsmanship in the art of jewelry making.

Awards:

-Navajo Nation Art Fair Windowrock, AZ

Check for work by this artist in our Jewelry section!

Michael Charlie is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1976 into the Navajo Nation. He began his interest in crafting pottery when he was 16 years old. Mr. Charlie was inspired by his mother, Susie Charlie, who is credited for developing this unique style of art. She taught her son how to paint the colors on the pottery, as well as etch his pottery free hand. Michael crafts on many  different shapes and sizes of pottery like wedding vases, seed pots, water vessels, and ollas. He etches feather designs and other geometric designs. His favorite pieces to craft are the ones he crafts with quality stones of turquoise inlayed into the pottery. Continuing long lived traditions is extremely important to Michael and by constructing his art he feels he is adding to the long lived legacy of his ancestors. The lucrative aspect of the business was also inspiration for him to become an artist. He signs his pottery as: Michael Charlie, Navajo

Michael is related to the following artists: Susie Charlie (mother), Terri Charlie (sister), Brandon Charlie and Myron Charlie  (brothers).

Check for work by this artist in our Pueblo Pottery section!

Myron Charlie is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Navajo Nation in 1975. He began his interest in crafting pottery when he was 14 years old, in 1985. Mr. Charlie was inspired by his mother, the well known Susie Charlie, credited for her etching on the popular navajo pottery. She taught her son how to paint the colors on the pottery, as well as etch his pottery free hand. Myron crafts all different shapes and sizes of pottery like wedding vases, seed pots, and other shapes of pottery. He etches feather designs and other geometric designs. His favorite pieces to craft are the ones he crafts with quality stones of turquoise inlayed into the pottery. Myron signs his art as: Myron H. Charlie, “Navajo”

Myron is related to the following artists: Susie Charlie (mother), Terri Charlie (sister), Brandon Charlie and Michael Charlie  (brothers).

Awards:

-1994 Santa Monica CA 1st place

-1995 Pomona CA 1st place

-1996 Torrance CA 1st place

-Several other awards

Check for work by this artist in our Horsehair Pottery section!

Denise is the daughter of well known potter Stella Chavarria and the granddaughter of famed potter Teresita Naranjo. Her work was reminiscent of Stella's and Teresita's for some years but in recent years she has developed her own characteristic style. She has entered Santa Fe Indian Market for many years and has won numerous awards. More information may be found in the Dillingham book "Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery" on page 229.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Mildred Chavarria, “Millie”, was born into the Santa Clara Pueblo back in 1946. She was inspired to make pottery by her mother Pablita Chavarria, who has won numerous awards. She began playing with clay at the age of 10, but didn’t spark much interest in pottery making until 1986.

Mildred specializes in the hand coiled and hand crafted, Santa Clara black on black pottery. She digs up her own clay from the sacred grounds within the Santa Clara Pueblo. She was taught how to mix clay, hand coil, shape, etch, fire, and polish her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. She enjoys carving elements of the earth or symbols of water serpents on her pottery. Mildred signs her pottery as: Millie Chavarria, Santa Clara, NM.

Mildred is also related to the following artists: Reycita Naranjo, Elizabeth Naranjo, Florence Browning, and Mary Singer.

Stella is the daughter of famed Santa Clara potter Teresita Naranjo who passed away in early 2000. Stella's pottery is very much influenced by that of her mother with the exception that Stella makes only black ware and works on a somewhat smaller scale than did Teresita. One could say that Stella makes quintessential Santa Clara black ware and receive little or no argument. Stella has two potting daughters who share in her style: Denise Chavarria and Sunday Chavarria.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Marie is a Jemez Pueblo artist who works with traditional methods. She uses all natural materials collected from the Jemez Pueblo. Marie specializes in a stone polished redware and then handpaints different designs that are significant to her. She is the daughter of Martha Toya and has 17 years of experience. She signs her pieces D & M Chinana because her husband often helps her with parts of the pottery making process.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Corrine Chino is a full blooded Native American Indian from the pueblo of Acoma. She was born in the late 1950’s. Corrine did not spark an interest in pottery making until she was 26 years old. Her mother, Edna Chino, encouraged and taught Corrine all the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery using traditional ancient methods. Edna also reinforced the importance of continuing the long lived family tradition of working with clay. Corrine was a natural when it came to hand coiling and hand painting pottery. Her painting has always been exquisite.

Corrine developed a very fine painting style of black on white fine line. Corrine will add a feather pattern to the top rim in a blue color at times to add a bit of flare. Corrine specializes in hand painting on greenware pottery. However, she is very knowledgeable when it comes to hand coiling pottery, just like her mother. Corrine was quoted as saying, “I just love to paint, it brings balance to my life.” Corrine signs her pottery as: Corrine Chino, Acoma. She is related to the following artisans: Brian Chino (brother), Jay Vallo (sister), and Judy Shields (sister).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Guest Life New Mexico Magazine

-Mary Laura’s Southwestern Art Calendar

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Edna  G. Chino is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1935. Edna is a member of the Eagle Clan. Frances Torivio taught Edna all the fundamentals of work with clay art and using the ancient traditional hand coiling methods at the age of fifteen.

Edna specializes in hand coiled traditional fineline design pottery. She gathers her clay from within the Acoma Pueblo along with natural slips and natural vegetation which is used for making the natural colors used to paint the designs. When the clay is cleaned Edna hand mixes it with sand and water to temper the clay and she begins the hand coiling process. She enjoys coiling the traditional olla shapes which were used for water and cooking by her ancestors. Once the pot has been formed she sets it out to dry and begins breaking up the plant life that she has gathered such as spinach plant which provided the black color, yucca stems are fashioned into brushes for painting, and flowers are used for color. When the pot is fully dry she begins to hand sand her pottery for a smooth finish. Then, she begins the hand painting process The Chino family is well known for their hand painted finelines and floral designs. Finally, once the painting has been complete and the paint has dried Edna fires her pottery the traditional way of her ancestors, outdoors. She signs her pottery as: Chino. She is related to: Clifford L. Garcia (father), Lita L. Garcia (mother), Josephine Sanchez, Virginia Victorino, Maxine Sanchez (sisters), Corrine Chino, Jeanette “Jay” Vallo (daughters), Kevin Chino, the late, Brian Chino (sons).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Born and Raised among the beautiful landscapes of Acoma New Mexico, Keith learned from generations of potters and artists. A graduate of Grants High School class of 1979, Keith continued his education in Lawrence Kansas, where he studied fine art at Haskell Indian College. There, he began a big change in media.

In the Mid 80's, he used the knowledge he acquired at Haskell to become a commercial printer. Working ten years for The Albuquerque Publishing Company, Keith's quest for knowledge and art only influenced him to manage Acoma pueblo's print shop. There, his skill with the press and love of art became his inspiration to become a full-time artist. Listening to his heart, and his ability to experiment with medias has only enhanced his pieces of art to award winning designs. Some of his awards include:                                     2nd   SWAIA 1990           2ND ITAE Ohio, 1991

1st CIM 1994                1st SWAIA 1995

1st NMSF 2000                 3rd NMSF 2000

1st NMSF 2001                1st NMSF 2001

Monica Chino is a full blooded Native American from the Acoma Pueblo. She was born in 1970. Monica was inspired by her mother, Emmalita Chino, to learn the art of pottery making. Emmalita taught Monica all the fundamentals of traditional pottery making. She also shared special techniques which Emmalita learned on her own, by trial and error. Monica seriously began making pottery at the age of 20. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key roll in her becoming a fine artisan.

Monica specializes in handmade traditional pottery. She gathers natural pigments from within the Acoma Pueblo. Monica soaks the clay, grinds, cleans the clay for imperfections, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, polishes, paints, and fires her pottery, the traditional way, outdoors. She hand paints, without stencils or other means, intricate fine line patterns, some of which are borrowed from her mother. She also uses all natural paints derived from plants and minerals also found within her pueblo. Continuing the family tradition of pottery making is very important to her and it’s people like her that ensure its survival. Monica is related to the following artists: Marie Torivio (aunt), Loretta Garcia (aunt), and Rose Chino (aunt). Monica signs her pottery as: Monica Chino, Acoma, N.M. or M.C. Acoma, N.M. 

Myra Chino was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1965. Myra was a self taught artist. She began painting at a the age of 15. Myra was inspired to continue the family tradition of painting on pottery from her ancestors. Myra was a natural gifted painter and she was also economically motivated to paint on pottery.

Myra specializes in hand painting fine line and star burst patterns on ceramic pottery. She paints a little dot on all four sides of the pots to break up the pottery into sections so that every side will be the same size of the starburst pattern. Thus, continuing the process throughout the pot. The end result is this wonderful eye dazzling, hand painted pottery that mystifies all who appreciate the art of fine line designs. Myra signs her pottery as: Myra Chino, Acoma, NM.

Myra is related to the following artists: Victoria Sarracino (sister) and Carla Vallo (sister-in-law).

Publication:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Terrance M. Chino, Sr. is a full blooded Native American Indian. He is a member of the Sun Clan and he was born in 1965 into the Acoma Pueblo. He learned the ancient traditional methods of working with clay art from his mother, the late, Evelyn L. Chino. She taught him all the fundamentals of where to gather clay and how to prepare and hand coil pottery. She also taught him the importance of continuing the long lived tradition of his ancestors.

Terrance gathers his clay, natural pigments, and vegetation from within the Acoma Pueblo. He cleans it for impurities and hand mixes it with sand and water to temper the clay. Then, he begins the hand coiling process, he prays and chants while he works on his pottery so that each piece is blessed. When he has completed the hand coiling and his pot has taken form  he sets them out to dry. While the pottery is drying he breaks down all his plants so that he may begin hand boiling colors for his masterpieces. He gathers plants such as spinach plant and wild flowers for this process. When his pottery is fully dried he sands each piece to a smooth finish and begins hand painting with the stem of a yucca plant which has been fashioned into a brush. He hand paints his favorite designs of checkerboards, flowers, mimbres, and sunfaces. Finally, Terrance fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors. He signs his pottery as: Terrance M. Chino, Sr., Acoma, N.M. Terrance is related to: Terrance M. Chino, Jr. (son) Emil Chino, Jeffrey Chino, Sr., (brothers), Ilona Chino, Colleen Marian, Marlene Vallo, Idene Mariano (sisters), Ivan F. Chino (father), and the late, Evelyn L. Chino (mother).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Erna Chosa, “Broom Flower”, member of the Sun Clan, was born in 1959 into the Jemez Pueblo.  She was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making by her Grandmother, Sarah Collateta. In addition, the lucrative aspects of the business also motivated her. Erna has been making pottery since she was 19 years of age.

Erna chose to specialize in the Hopi traditional pottery instead of the Jemez styles. She learned all the fundamentals from watching others make their pottery. She enjoys making elegant and finely painted wedding vases best of all because of its ceremonial representation. Wedding vases have been a part of pueblo life for centuries. She also enjoys making seed pots. Erna hand coils her pottery the traditional way and she even fires her pottery outdoors. Erna signs her pottery as: E.C. Hopi-Tewa.

Erna is related to the following artists: Antonita Collateta (mother) and Kathleen Collateta (sister).

Awards:

-Jemez Art Show 1990 & 1992

-Eighth Northern Art Show 1988, 1989

  & 1991

-Santo Domingo Art Show 1992 & 1993

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Reuel “Ral” Claw is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1960 into the Navajo Nation, and was raised in Tuba City, AZ.  He married into the Nampeyo family (his wife is Carla Claw-Nampeyo). She is the granddaughter of the famous “Nampeyo”. Carla taught Ral all the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional Hopi pottery. She is a strong believer in continuing family traditions and encouraged him to learn the Hopi methods of pottery making. He has been working with clay since 1997.

Ral has crossed cultures and has developed his own unique style of art. He specializes in handmade Hopi pottery. However, his pottery represents the history of his Navajo people with some pertaining to the healing ceremonies, and others are stories of the Mountain People. Ral gathers his clay from within the Hopi Reservation along side of his wife. He cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, paints, polishes, and fires his pottery, outdoors, with sheep dung. He paints contemporary styles of traditional warriors and healers on his pottery. He signs his pottery as: R. Claw, or Ral for short, followed by Navajo.

Ral is related to “Silver” John Claw, Jr. (father) known for his oil paintings.

Carla Claw Nampeyo, member of the Snow Clan, was born in 1975 into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation. Carla is one of the granddaughters of the famous “Nampeyo”.She learned the art of working with clay in 1984. Thomas Polacca was the greatest influence in pointing Carla in the right direction of the traditional Hopi ways. Thomas taught Carla all the fundamentals of traditional pottery making. The lucrative aspect of the business was also a great inspiration to her.

Carla specializes in handmade traditional and contemporary styled pottery. She gathers all of her materials, like natural pigments, from the grounds within the Hopi Reservation. She cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, paints and fires her own pottery. On her contemporary pottery she uses a sharp object to carve out kachinas, warriors, clowns, and traditional designs. Carla, finally, polishes her masterpieces with a sacred stone which is passed down to her from other artisans, which is a valuable gift to be honored with. Carla signs her pottery as: Carla Nampeyo, Hopi.

Fannie Polacca (grandmother), Iris Youvella (aunt), Nolan Youvella (cousin), Gary Polacca (brother), and Adelle Lalo-Nampeyo are among some of the finest potters that Carla is related to.

Awards:

-Hopi Art Show

-Gallup Ceremonial

Publications:

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

-Beyond Tradition

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

Check for work by this artist in our Hopi Pottery section!

Prinston Collateta, “Drumming Boy”, was born in 1981. He is half Hopi-Tewa and part Navajo, and Jemez, member of the Sun Clan and Eagle Clan. Prinston began sculpting at the age of 7. He learned the art of sculpting on wood from his Father, Tom Collateta, Sr., and many other artists. Prinston also becomes more inspirational when he receives compliments on his carvings. This makes him want to continue to perfect his dolls even more.

Prinston specializes in hand carving Hopi kachina dolls from scratch. He strolls along the banks of the Rio Grande River, in search of good sizes of cotton wood root to carve his dolls from. He carves his dolls with just an ordinary pocket knife. He studies the wood that he finds then lets his imagination take over. He enjoys carving full bodied dolls like Eagle dancers and Sun face kachinas the most, because they represent his clans. Prinston signs his carvings as: P. Collateta, followed by a sunface along with the title of the kachina.

Prinston is related to the following artists: Tom Collateta, Jr., and Nero Collateta (brothers).

Awards:

-Polacca Day School 1st place

Check for work by this artist in our Kachinas section!

Carolyn is a fine Acoma potter noted for her colorful Mimbres designs done on variously shaped seedpots. A source of confusion for many is the fact that there are two completely unrelated "Lewis" families at Acoma Pueblo. One is the famous Lucy Lewis family, and the other is the Katherine Lewis family. Carolyn is a member of this latter family which includes the following sibling potters: Marilyn Henderson, Ray Rebecca Lucario, Diane Lewis, Bernard and Sharon Lewis, Carolyn Concho, Judy Lewis. This family comprises one of the best extended potting families in any pueblo. Carolyn has entered the Santa Fe Indian Market many times and has numerous First, Second and Third Place ribbons to show for her efforts.

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Arthur & Hilda Coriz are both prize winning, full blooded Native American Indians from the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Arthur was born in 1948 and deceased in winter of 1998. Hilda was born in 1949 and currently making pottery on her own. Arthur was a self taught artist. He observed his brother-in-law, Robert Tenorio and became inspired to learn the long lived tradition of working with clay. Hilda was coaxed by her brother, Robert Tenorio in the 1980’s to learn the art of working with clay. Continuing the traditions of their people are extremely important to them, and by working with clay they add to the long lived legacy of their people.

They specialize in handmade, hand painted traditional Santo Domingo pottery. They gather natural clays and other pigments from within the Santo Domingo Pueblo. They hand clean the clay, mix all the materials with water, and begin hand forming the pottery using the coiling method. When the product has been completed they set it out to dry. Once the pottery is dry they sand the finished product, they hand paint many different designs of birds, animals, flowers, and geometric designs with natural paints which they boil from pigments like spinach plant and honey bee wax. Finally, they fire their pottery the traditional way, outdoors. They sign their pottery as: Arthur & Hilda Coriz, followed by a hand etched pot. Paulita Pacheco (sister), Gilbert Pacheco (brother-in-law), Ione Coriz (daughter), Andrew Pacheco (nephew), Juanita Tenorio (mother), and Andrea Ortiz (grandmother) are among some of the artists they are related to.

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

Awards:

-Too many to list

Ava Marie “Cool-Ca-Ya” Coriz is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1948 into the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Ava is a member of the Antelope Clan. She was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand making jewelry from her ancestors. The lucrative aspect of the business also encouraged her to become a jewelry artist.

Ava specializes in constructing hand strung and hand ground beaded necklaces. She was taught all the fundamentals of working with raw nuggets of various stones at the age of 14. She learned the art of working with silver in 1969. Today, Ava combines her knowledge of stones and silver to construct the finest beaded necklaces, using quality stones in the process. Ava is related to: Rodney Coriz, Daniel Coriz (nephews), and Lupe Pena (father).

Awards:

-1997 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-1996 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-1995 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Publications:

-New Mexico Magazine

Joseph Coriz is an authentic Native American Indian.  He was born into the Santo Domingo Pueblo in 1958.  He was inspired to follow in the footprints of his parents where were very successful at making beautiful handmade jewelry, and Vidal Aragon  who was known for his fine silversmith petroglyph designs.  They taught him all the fundamentals of working with  beads  and raw silver at a very young age.  Joseph absorbed each piece of information with traditional hand crafted jewelry and eventually developed his own unique style.  He combined the traditional methods of hand crafting jewelry and added his own unique contemporary flare by creating his style primarily with authentic sterling silver designs.   He developed a great passion for hand crafting beautiful masterpieces of fine jewelry and is surely one of the finest master silversmiths of our time. 

The work of Joseph Coriz  is very distinctive and easily recognizable.  He works primarily with sterling silver, rolled heishi beads, turquoise, coral, and handmade silver beads.  With this combination of natural products and his dramatic stamp work he is able to allow his creativity take control and create some of the finest jewelry available today.  His colorful and innovative style is surely all his own.   His creations include rings, necklaces, bolos, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and concho belts.  Joseph stamps his masterpieces as Joseph Coriz, Santo Domingo Pueblo.

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-Eight Northern Pueblo Art Show

-Colorado Springs Art Show

-New Mexico State Fair

-Heard Museum Art Show

Dolores Curran is one of the finest potters in any Pueblo today. This fact was validated in 1993 when Dolores won "Best of Division" at the Santa Fe Indian Market. This means her pot was judged the finest of all the hundreds of pots entered that year. She is the daughter of the late potter Ursulita Naranjo and the sister of famed minaturist Geri Naranjo. She was married to the fine San Juan potter Alvin Curran who passed away in 1999. Dolores most typically works in the "cream on red" style. A little known fact is that she must paint each pot at least three times before the designs achieve the required degree of opacity. More information on Dolores Curran may be found in the Gregory Schaaf Book "Pueblo Indian Pottery - 750 Artist Biographies" on pages 18-19.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Manuel Curtis was born in 1976 into the Navajo Nation. He was inspired to learn the process of hand making Navajo kachina dolls, by his friend, (Ronnie Foster), his creativity, and economic motivation also played a key roll. He began making his dolls in 1993 at the age of 17. He began by assisting Ronnie construct his Hopi kachina sculptures. He took the knowledge he acquired from him and came up with his own style of sculptures.

Manuel specializes in hand making the large Navajo kachina dolls. He takes strolls down by  the Rio Grande River in search of raw materials like cottonwood root to create his kachinas. Manuel accents his dolls with leather, feathers, bells, and uses acrylic paints to make his fine art. His favorite one to make is the koshare clown. Manuel signs his kachina dolls as: By Manuel Curtis, followed by the name of the kachina.

Manuel is related to Bernice Todicheenie (mother), who creates sand paintings.

Tony Dallas is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1956 into the  Hopi Reservation. He married into the Cochiti Pueblo in the early 1980’s. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay sculptures by observing his mother-in-law, Lucy R. Suina. He sparked an interest in working with clay at the age of 16.

               Tony seriously began making pottery in 1982. He learned all the ancient traditional methods of constructing pottery and clay sculptures. Finally, he decided that he really enjoyed making storytellers and continues to create a very unique contemporary style of art. He stated, “I started to hand coil a regular storyteller. Then, I thought for a moment. Mudheads and Koshare clowns also tell stories and they are so humorous to me. So I began experimenting with different styles of storytellers using my creative imagination to construct them”. Tony’s style is a finely painted contemporary flare on a traditional sculpture. He signs his art as: T.D. followed by a badger claw to denote his Clan origin.

Tony is related to the late Charles Loma.

Publications:

-The Pueblo Storyteller

-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

-Miniature Figures in Clay

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

-Talking with the Clay

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market various years

-Rio Grande Indian Market various years

-New Mexico State Fair various years

Marquis Dann-Lente is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1970 and is a member of the Water Clan and a member of the Kachina Clan. He is half Hopi and half Laguna. Marquis was inspired to learn the art of  working with clay from Preston Duwyenie from the Hopi Reservation and May Chavez from the Acoma Pueblo. They taught Marquis all the fundamentals of constructing hand coiled pottery using the ancient traditional methods that were passed down from generation to generation. The lucrative aspect of the business was also inspiration for him to learn this unique style of art.

Marquis specializes in hand coiled and hand painted traditional pottery. He gathers his natural clumps of clay and he harvests his raw plants from within the reservation. He breaks down the the clumps of clay into a fine powder form and cleans the clay for impurities. Then, he hand mixes the clay with sand and water to temper the clay. He begins the hand coiling process by rolling the clay into snake like coils and begins building his pottery to his desired shape. Once his vessel has been formed it is set out to dry. He fashions a brush from a yucca stem with his teeth and he boils his raw plants for his desired natural colors to paint his vessels. Once the vessels are dry he sands them for a smooth finish. Then, he begins hand painting his favorite designs such as birds, finelines, rainbow bands, and geometric designs. Finally, he fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors with cedar chips. He signs his pottery as: Lente, Laguna. He is related to: Floyd Dann, Jr. (father), and Sandra J. Lente (mother).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Dennis Daubs, “Oboweya” (Early morning runner before the kachina dance), was born in 1960. He is half Jemez and half San Ildefonso, member of the Eagle Clan. Dennis was inspired to make pottery from his Great Grandmother Maria Sanchez and his Grandmother Elvira Gachupin. At the age of 18 he started gathering his own clay and experimenting with pottery making.

Dennis specializes in the handmade sgraffito red or black polished pottery. He mixes his own clay, hand coils, shapes, etches, fires, and polishes his own pottery, the traditional way, outdoors. His sgraffito etchings usually include a detailed etched kachina dancer, animals or various shapes of geometrical designs on the different shapes of pots he coils. Dennis stated that “I use a different design on every piece of pottery that I make and each one is a challenging and rewarding one to complete.” Dennis signs his pottery as: Dennis Daubs, Jemez Pueblo. He is also a distant relative to the famous Maria Martinez.

Dennis is related to the following artists: Gerri Gachupin (mother), Patricia Daubs (sister), and the late, Steve Daubs (brother).

Awards:

-The Mart in Denver 1979

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1982 & 1984

-Eighth Northern Art Show 1986

-Las Vegas Art Show 1987

-New Mexico State Fair

-Other awards won too numerous to list

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

Gerri “Gachupin” Daubs is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1935 into the small but active Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico. She is a member of the Eagle Clan, which was passed down from her mother, Elvira Gachupin. Early schooling brought Gerri in contact with Al Momaday, Kiowa artist and teacher. Momaday nurtured young Gerri. Natural talent guided her art and design in the early years. Gerri’s grandmother, Maria Sanchez-Colaque was from the San Ildefonso Pueblo and first cousin to Maria Martinez, the famous master of the black San Ildefonso pottery. Gerri’s grandmother gave her the hands on experience of working with natural clay. She taught her all the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery using ancient traditional methods in the process, which was passed down to her from her ancestors.

Gerri’s work is exhibited in Red River and Raton, New Mexico. She also participates in several art shows throughout Arizona. In the last few years her work has appeared in collections all over the world and her reputation as an exceptional pottery artist is well deserved.

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

Patricia Daubs, “Turquoise Flower”, member of the Eagle Clan was born in 1963 into the Jemez. She began learning the art of working with clay at the age of 12. Her brother, the late Steve Daubs, inspired her to continue the family tradition of pottery making. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key role in her becoming an artist.

Patricia specializes in contemporary authentic hand-coiled pottery. She gathers her materials like sand, clay, and pigments from within the hills of the Jemez Pueblo. Patricia cleans, mixes, shapes, hand-coils, paints, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors, with cedar wood chips. Her designs normally include feathers, kiva steps, and serpents. She also accents her pottery with turquoise stones to give it a unique style. Patricia’s pottery radiates tranquility. She signs her pottery as: Patricia Daubs, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. She is related to the following artists Dennis Daubs (brother), Gerri Daubs (mother), and the late Steve Daubs (brother).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Anthony David was born in 1965. He is half Hopi and half Navajo. He grew up in Winslow, AZ and he was inspired to learn the art of carving by his friend, Richard Gorman. Richard taught Anthony the fundamentals of carving on wood. Anthony has been carving on wood since 1989, at the age of 22. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key roll in his inspiration to become an artisan.

With a simple tool like a pocket knife, materials like cottonwood root, acrylic paint, and an artists imagination, Anthony can transform a simple chunk of wood into spectacular images of full bodied spiritual kachinas. Kachinas are believed to be the spiritual guardians of the Indian way of life. There are over 300 known Kachinas from the Hopi Reservation alone. In ancient times, Hopi kachinas were used in religious ceremonies and were believed to bless and watch over the Hopi People. It is essential to represent a kachina doll as accurately as possible, for they are highly respected. Many of the dolls carved by Anthony are one continuous piece of wood, which is a difficult task to accomplish. His favorite doll to carve is the Eagle Kachina because of the highly detailed work involved. He enjoys the challenge of carving the feathers on the same piece of wood. Anthony signs his dolls as: A*David.

Davis, Genevieve (Jemez)

Genevieve is from the Jemez Pueblo where she makes incredible pieces of pottery. She is best known for her detailed Owls. Gen uses all natural materials when making her pottery and uses the traditional Jemez Pueblo methods to hand form and hand paint all of her pieces. She signs each piece G. Davis Jemez.

Gene Dawahoya is a Hopi Katsina carver from Hopi 2nd Mesa. He is the brother of Nuvadi Dawahoya. Gene is a noted artist who has received many awards for his work. His Katsinas are often carved of a single piece of cottonwood root, and feature natural paints. His stunning Katsinam are coveted by collectors for their intricate detail. Gene is known to carry on the tradition of Traditional Katsina Dolls including Eagle Dancers, Warrior Maidens and more.

Nuvadi Dawahoya is a young Kachina carver from Hopi 2nd Mesa. He is among the most well-known contemporary Hopi carvers of our time. He also has amassed a large number of awards including 1st place at the Indian Arts and Crafts Association show in 2000, 2nd at the Santa Fe Indian Market 1999, Haskell merit award 1999, and 1st place at the Albuquerque Indian Market 2000. He is most well known for his Warrior mouse, and Sunface Katsinas. He recently won the Southwestern Indian Art Fair's Award of Excellence for his representation of Nataska, a disciplinary Katsina. His carvings, done entirely with a knife, and most time of a single piece of cottonwood root are intricately detailed. Nuvadi is from Shungopavi.  His work is coveted by collectors today, and destined to appreciate in value in the future.

Preston Duywenie is a Hopi, born on the reservation, raised in Scottsdale, AZ, and currently living at Santa Clara Pueblo. He is married to Debra Trujillo Duywenie who makes fine sgrafitto pottery. Before the untimely death of Harvey Chavarria, she and Harvey collaborated as potters under the name Debra Harvey. Preston attended the IAIA school in Santa Fe where he studied virtually all of the crafts. He is a painter, sculptor, jeweler and potter. It is as a potter and jeweler that he became most well known and although presently he is only potting, he frequently uses his jewelry skills by incorporating silver ingots into his pottery. His strikingly original and unique pieces have won many awards including "Best of Show" at the prestigious Heard Museum Show in 1996. At the same show in 1997, he again won "Best in Pottery" -- with a different group of judges. At the 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Preston won two First places as well as a "Challenge Award". He is one of the finest potters working in any pueblo today.

Check for work by this artist in our Hopi Pottery section!

Max Early was born in 1963 into the Laguna Pueblo. His mother is of the Turkey Clan and his father is of the Bear Clan. Max married into the Cochiti Pueblo and has 3 children. His interest in tradition began when he was a teenager living with his grandparents. Max was never encouraged to actually work with clay since his grandmother, Clara Acoya Encino, emphasized that pottery making was a woman’s job. It was, however, acceptable for Max to assist with painting his grandmother’s pottery. He began doing this when she developed arthritis and could no longer paint. He eventually moved away to attend college and his interest in pottery lay dormant for nearly 10 years.

He began painting ceramic ware as a hobby, but couldn’t feel any life in the commercial pieces. He decided to venture out on his own. He knew where to gather raw materials and set out, with determination, to make a large olla. Once complete, Max called on a fellow potter, Gladys Paquin, and asked her teach him how to fire pottery. His first olla survived the firing and Max took the success as a sign that he was destined to become an artisan.

With only a handful of traditional potters existing in the Laguna Pueblo, Max knew what his obligation to his Pueblo would be. Max says that he first learned to make drums and moccasins. However, drum and moccasin makers were a dime a dozen. His decision to change over to traditional pottery came from his desire to help save the art of pottery making within his pueblo from extinction. Max is encouraging his children to continue the pottery making tradition. Max’s goal to become a mentor for his people will fulfill his ambition to keep the tradition alive and endure for future generations to come.

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market consecutively since 1994-1998 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places

-New Mexico State Fair 1995 4th premium

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Santa Fe Indian Market August 1998

-Singing the Clay: Pueblo Pottery of the SW

-SWAIA American Indian News, July 1995

-Indian Artist, Spring 1995

-New Mexico Magazine, August 1994

-Pueblo Artist Portraits

-The Native American Indian Artist Directory

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Trading Post Guide Book

-Acoma and Laguna Pottery

Permanent Collections:

-Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH

-Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuq. NM

-Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Museum of NM, Santa Fe, NM

-San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego C.A.

Galleries:

-Andrea Fisher Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

-Robert Nichols Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

-Rio Grande Indian Wholesale, Albuq. NM 

Mary was the daughter of Christina Naranjo and has as sisters such well known potters as Teresita Naranjo, Mary Cain and Mida Tafoya. In 1981 Victor moved to Santa Clara Pueblo where he observed his aunts (Mary Cain and Mida Tafoya) making pottery. Nonetheless, he considers himself largely self-taught. Naomi was born in Los Angeles (1961) to a non-Indian father and a Santa Clara mother (Patricia Fuentes). She moved to Santa Clara in 1984, met Victor, and they started potting together. She was taught by her brother Lorenzo Fuentes. Victor and Naomi form their pots independently as each has special shapes. Naomi designs the pots but Victor carves them. Then Naomi does the polishing and Victor the firing. Truly a collaborative effort. : They won two First Places at the most recent Picuris show. More information is available in the Fourteen Families book page 236.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Berleen Estevan is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1975. She has been working with pottery since 1985, at the age of 10. She was inspired to learn the process of pottery making by her Grandmother, the late, Lucy Juanico. Lucy taught Berleen all the fundamentals of pottery making the traditional way. Berleen has invented her own unique style of pottery.

Berleen specializes in hand painted greenware and hand coiled pottery. She hand paints kokopelli, animals, mimbres designs, and angels on many different shapes of pottery. Berleen hand coils traditional pottery and hand paints her unique patterns. She gathers her raw pigments from within the Acoma Pueblo and uses ancient traditional methods to construct her pottery. However, she really enjoys painting on ceramic pottery most of all. The first piece Berleen ever made was a bread oven, which she was so proud of. Berleen signs her pottery as: B. Estevan, Acoma, N.M.

Berleen is related to the following artists: The famous Dorothy Torivio (aunt) and Charlene Estevan.

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Jennifer M. Estevan and Michael Patricio are a couple that have teamed up to hand coil a very unique style of pottery. Jennifer was born in 1963, Michael was born in 1968. They were both born into the Acoma Pueblo. Jennifer began experimenting with pottery making at the age of 14. She was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making by her Mother, Virginia Estevan, who taught her all the essentials for pottery making. Jennifer and Michael contribute equally to the hard work it takes to make their intricate detailed pottery.

They specialize in the handmade traditional Acoma pottery, designed with lightning bolt patterns, which is referred to as the Anasazi design. All of the ingredients are borrowed from Mother Earth, including the colors derived from natural pigments. They hand coil a wide variety of shapes and sizes, however, Jennifer enjoys making the original olla style the best. Jennifer signs their pottery as: J. Estevan, Acoma, NM.

Jennifer is related to the following artists: Yvonne Estevan (sister) and Joe Estevan (brother).

Awards:

-Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonies 2nd place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Kimberly Eteeyan is a full blooded Native American Indian, she was born in 1964. She is half Jemez and half Potowatomie. Kimberly was inspired to hand coil clay sculptures and storytellers by many other artists, her creativity, and she was also economically motivated to continue a long lived tradition. Kimberly has been experimenting with pottery making since the age of 20. Kimberly was quoted as saying, “I just wanted to create my own style of art.”

Kimberly specializes in handmade storytellers and clay sculptures, but does not limit her abilities. She can also hand coil pottery the traditional way. She gathers her clay from the grounds within the Jemez Pueblo. Kimberly also grinds, sifts, hand mixes, and hand shapes her pottery on her own. She paints using all natural colors provided to her by the natural pigments found within the Jemez Pueblo, and finally, she fires her pottery in a kiln. Kimberly signs her pottery as: KE-Jemez.

Kimberly is related to Mary Louise Eteeyan (mother), another one of the well known potters around today.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair Honorable mention

-New Mexico State Fair 3rd place

-New Mexico State Fair 4th place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Mary Louise Eteeyan is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1942. She was inspired to learn the art of pottery making, by observing several of her friends hand coil their pottery. She began experimenting with pottery making in 1978 at the age of 34.

Mary Louise specializes in the handmade Jemez style butterfly bowls with lids. She also hand coils wedding vases and various shapes of pottery. Mary gathers her own clay from the grounds within the Pueblo. Then, she soaks the clay, grinds, sifts, cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, hand paints, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Mary Louise uses all natural pigments to construct  her pottery. Her coiling and painting skills are among one of the most precise around today. Mary signs her pottery as: Mary Louise Eteeyan, Jemez.

Mary is related to the following artists: Anna Marie Sendo (mother) and Kimberly Eteeyan (daughter).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st place

-Eighth Northern Arts & Crafts Show 1st place

-Gallup Indian Ceremonials

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Featured Artist in Southwest Magazine

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Beverly Etsate is an acclaimed Zuni Inlay Artist. Bev is the Daughter of Famed Zuni Artists Rosalie and Augustine Pinto. Bev continues her parents tradition of Inlaid Jewelry by producing jewelry in the same style as her Elders. She has over 30 years of experience in her craft. In that time, she has quickly become one of Zuni's foremost Jewelers.

Rick Etsitty is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Navajo Nation in 1963. He began crafting his pottery  in 1994, at the age of 28. He was inspired to craft his pottery by observing his sister, Ella Morgan She is also a well known pottery artist.

Rick specializes in the Navajo etched pottery. He paints the pottery using multi colors, and hand etches many different patterns and designs. Then, he fires the pottery in a kiln. Rick hand carves animals or kokopelli (god of fertility) designs on his different shaped pottery. He crafts many different sizes of pottery. Rick signs his pottery as: ME Dine RE, followed by the year it was etched.

Rick is also related to the following artists: Emma Etsitty, Peggy Etsitty, Etta Morgan, and Ida James (sisters).

Awards:

-1998 New Mexico State Fair 2nd place

Publications:

-Mary Laura’s calendar

Erik Fender, Than Tsideh “Sunbird”,  was born in 1970 into the San Ildefonso Pueblo.  He specializes in traditional and contemporary blackware pottery.

He started the art of pottery making by watching his grandmother, Carmelita Dunlap, as she would hand coil and hand paint her traditional black -on-black pottery.  As he grew older, he started to experiment more with various techniques and clays.  His style progressed from the traditional black-on-black pottery to an innovated two tone, black-on-red, separated by sgraffito low relief carving.  He also makes beautiful polychrome pots and presently he specializes in green-on-black pots.  He harvests his clumps of raw clay from the sacred grounds within the San Ildefonso Pueblo, then, Erik breaks the clumps of clay to a fine powder substance and mixes it with volcanic ash and water, once that process is complete he hand coils snake like forms and begins to construct his vessel.  When the vessel is built it is set out to dry. Once it has dried he sands it down to smooth out the surface. He stone polishes and hand paints his designs with all natural paints which are all boiled from native vegetation grown in the Pueblo.  He is related to Martha Appleleaf Fendor (mother), Carmelita Dunlap (grandmother), Linda Dunlap (aunt), Jeannie Mountain Flower Dunlap (aunt), and Carlos Dunlap (grandfather). He signs his pottery as Than Tsideh which means “Sunbird”.

Awards:

-1987 New Mexico Congressional Art First Place

-1988 Santa Fe Indian Market First Place

-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market Honorable Mention

Publications:

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

-Pueblo Artists Portraits

Gordon Foley, “Middle of the Plaza”, was born in 1975 into the Jemez Pueblo; he is also Oto-Missouria. The lucrative aspect of the business was partially responsible for his inspiration. However, he was also inspired from his elders to learn the art of pottery making. As a child, Gordon would assist other members of his Pueblo to hand coil their pottery and observe their methods, with a careful eye, and gather knowledge so that one day he to would be able to make beautiful art of his own.

Gordon specializes in hand coiled contemporary styled pottery, but he is not limited to just that he also has made clay sculptures. All of his pottery is made from Mother Earth which is gathered around his home within the Jemez Pueblo. Then, he mixes the clay with white sand. Gordon uses the traditional coiling method to form each piece of pottery. Before the pottery dries he will form ribs around the exterior part of the pot. Once the Pottery is dried, he sands the pot around each rib with sand paper. Next, he applies the paint and then adds a finishing polish to the pottery. Finally, he will fire the pottery outdoors with cedar wood, which is the traditional way of potting. Gordon signs his pottery as: Gordon Foley, Jemez.

Gordon is related to many famous potters among them are following artists: Laura Gachupin (mother), Marie G. Romero (Grandmother), Bertha Gachupin (godmother), Maxine Toya (aunt), and Damian Toya (cousin).

Awards:

-1984 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st & 2nd Place

-1993 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st

-1997 Gallup Ceremonial 2nd Place

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 4th Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

This young potter is the daughter of Juanita Fragua, one of the potters responsible for the renaissance of Jemez pottery. B J works in a style somewhat reminiscent of her mother's but it has a more contemporary feel. She is one of the best young potters to emerge from Jemez Pueblo in recent years and many awards testify to this fact. B J also has a sister, Glendora Fragua, who is a also a very talented and recognized potter and a brother, Clifford Fragua, one of the best known Indian sculptors. She is a member of a very talented family.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Chrislyn Fragua is a 29 year old Native American potter from the reservation of Jemez Pueblo. She has been making pottery, storytellers and other figures since the age of twelve. Her mother Linda Lucero-Fragua took the time to teach her how to make pottery and taught her to get the clay from the hills of Jemez. She is now passing the skills on to her daughter, Anissa Tsosie who is now eight years old.

The clays and paint the Jemez potters use come from the surrounding areas of Jemez Pueblo so everything they use in the process of making the pottery is natural. Her favorite part of making pottery is doing the formation. Once she starts working with the clay she doesn't know what she will be forming and she usually gets different ideas. She has won a couple of ribbons from the Eight Northern Art Shows and plans to accomplish more in the near future.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Clifford Kim Fragua is a full blooded Native American Indian from the Jemez Pueblo. He was born in 1957 and has been hand making pottery sculptures since 1970. He was inspired to learn the art of clay sculpting from his Mother, the late Grace L. Fragua.

              Clifford specializes in handmade storytellers, humorous koshares (ceremonial clowns), animals figurines, nativity’s, Christmas ornaments, and corn maidens. The materials that Clifford uses consist of native clay and temper found around the Jemez Pueblo. Natural clay is also used as colors to paint each piece. The clay and sand is prepared by drying, grinding, and sifting before it is mixed with water to produce the medium (weight of clay). The sculptures are then hand pinched, air dried, painted, and wood fired. The major portion of each sculpture is hollow. The end product is a natural tan-buff color where it is not painted. His work is a unique blend of the traditional and contemporary styles, producing one of a kind pieces. Emily Fragua-Tsosie, Bonnie Fragua, and Carol Fragua-Gachupin (sisters) are among the artists that Clifford is related to.

Awards:

-1992 Gallup Ceremonial 1st place

-1992 Totah Farmington Festival 2nd & 3rd

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

Felicia is an incredibly talented artist from the Jemez Pueblo, and a member of the renowned Fragua family. Her mother and sisters began teaching her the art of pottery making at the age of 13. She is well known for her wide variety of storytellers and other figures like koshares, mudheads, horse riders and nativity sets.

Felicia hand coils each piece of pottery using all natural clays from around the Jemez Pueblo. Her stone polishing technique is top notch, and each piece is extremely smooth to the touch. Lately she has been adding petroglyph designs to her pots for an added touch of the southwest, a practice that has been well received by collectors and tourists alike. She signs her work as F. Fragua.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Glendora Fragua (formerly known as Glendora Daubs) is the finest creator of Jemez sgrafitto-style pottery. Her work is continuously evolving and improving, a fact which was recognized in 1997 when she won the "Best of Pottery" award at the Gallup Indian Ceremonial. She is the daughter of well known Jemez potter Juanita Fragua and her siblings are potter BJ Fragua and sculptor Clifford Fragua.

Joseph Fragua is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1977. Joseph was inspired to learn the art of working with natural clay by assisting Sharon Sarracino construct her pottery. Sharon shared with Joseph all the fundamentals of working with clay and using the ancient traditional methods of hand coiling just like their ancestors before them. Joseph was quoted as saying: “I enjoy working with clay because it is a part of me that I am giving to the world, and the reactions on the faces of those who admire my work inspire me to become more creative with my ideas”.

Joseph specializes in contemporary hand coiled pottery. He gathers his raw clumps of clay from within the Jemez Pueblo. He breaks down the clumps of clay and cleans the fine sands of clay for impurities. Then, Joseph hand mixes the clay with sand and water, then, he begins the hand coiling process by rolling the clay into snake like coils and begins hand building a clay vessel. Once the vessel is built he sets the piece out to dry, this is a crucial stage because if it dries to quickly the vessel may crack. Once the vessel has dried, he sands his piece down to give it a smooth finish. Then, he begins the painting process with a stem of a yucca plant that has been fashioned into a brush. His designs include flowers hummingbirds, butterflies, eagle feathers, and intricate geometric designs. He on occasion with hand sculpt a kachina maiden with a beautiful head dress on his pottery. Finally, when the painting is done he fires his pottery in a kiln so that the painting doesn’t rub off. Joseph enjoys hand coiling all types of clay art. He accepts new challenges eagerly. He signs his pottery as: Fragua, Jemez. He is related to: Margaret Toya (grandmother).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Juanita Fragua is one of the foremost potters responsible for the renaissance pottery. She has been making traditional pottery for over 25 years, beginning at a time when sun-dried poster-painted pottery was the norm at Jemez Pueblo. Her beautiful stone-polished pottery has brought her recognition and blue ribbons at shows all over the country. She also has two very talented potting daughters: Glendora Fragua and B J Fragua. Her son, Clifford Fragua, is one of the best known Indian sculptors. All in all, a very talented family inspired by the vision of Juanita.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Matthew E. Fragua, “Spotted Eagle”, is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1963. He began experimenting with clay at the age of 16, in 1978. His inspiration was his Great Grandmother, Persingula Gachupin. She taught him all the fundamentals of constructing clay sculptures using ancient traditional methods which were passed down from generation to generation.

Matthew specializes in hand making koshare storytellers, horses, figurines and he can hand coil pottery. Matthew digs up his own clay, cleans, mixes, molds, paints, and fires his pottery, the traditional way, outdoors. He uses all natural colors and clays. Matthew signs his pottery as: M. Fragua, Jemez. Matthew is related to the following artists: Marie Romero (aunt), Laura Gachupin (cousin), and the famous Maxine Toya (cousin).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Virginia Fragua, “Ponca Flower” is a full blooded Native American Indian. She is a member of the Corn Clan and was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1961. She was inspired to continue the long lived family tradition of hand coiling pottery, using ancient traditional methods at the age of 16. Her inspiration came from her grandmother, Persingula M. Gachupin. They developed a very close relationship during this time. She taught her all the fundamentals of working with clay. Virginia also helped her mother paint her pottery when she was a child.

Virginia specializes in hand coiled melon styled pottery. She was taught where to gather her clay, clean it, mix, hand coil, shape, add melon ridges, paint, and fire her pottery the traditional way, outdoors, with cedarwood chips. She also polishes her pottery to a nice shine. She really enjoys the challenge of hand making all different sizes and shapes. All of her pottery has a corn symbol hand painted on it to denote her Clan origin. Virginia signs her pottery as: V.P. Fragua, Jemez.

Virginia is related to the following artists: Lenora G. Fragua (mother), Marie G. Romero (aunt), Bertha Gachupin (sister), Damian Toya (cousin), Camillia Toya (cousin) and the famous Maxine Toya (aunt).

Awards:

-1990 New Mexico State Fair

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

Emily Fragua-Tsosie, “Corn Pollen”, was born in 1951 into the Pueblo of the Jemez. Emily was inspired by her mother and grandmother to hand coil and pinch clay sculptures, at the age of 12. They encouraged and motivated her to learn the art of working with clay so that she could add to the long lived tradition of constructing art, using ancient methods.

Emily was taught where to gather the clay, clean, sift, shape, mold, paint, and fire her pottery, outdoors. By the late 1960’s she started making her own corn dolls and other sculptures. People often ask what her favorite type of art to make is and she replys, “Everything I create is a favorite piece because I created it.” Emily specializes in storytellers and corn maidens. She signs her pottery as: E. Fragua Tsosie, Jemez.

Emily is related to the following artists: Leonard Tsosie (husband), Rose Fragua, Chris Fragua, and Caroline Gachupin.

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd place

-Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd place

-Eighth Northern Indian Arts 1st place

-Other awards too numerous to list

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

-Pueblo Family Pottery

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Bertha Gachupin , “Thunder Flower”, was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1954. She is a full blooded Native American Indian, member of the Zia and Corn Clan. Bertha was inspired to learn the art of making pottery by her Grandmother, Persingula Gachupin. She was also inspired artistically and economically to continue the family tradition of hand coiling pottery.

 Bertha specializes in handmade corn stalk pottery. She has continued to use only traditional methods to make her pottery and has mastered the hand coiling, stone polish, and traditional firing needed to perfect her pottery. Bertha’s unique style is to use a buff or red slip on the pottery , then applies melon swirls that are carved into the her pottery. She then accents the finished product with corn painted designs to denote her clan origin. The pottery is then hand polished after firing. Bertha signs her pottery as: Bertha Gachupin, Jemez, followed by a corn symbol.

Marie Romero(aunt), Lenora Fragua (mother), Maxine Toya (cousin), Laura Gachupin (cousin), and Virginia “Ponca” Fragua (sister) are among many of the artists that Bertha is related to.

Awards:

-1995 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-1994 New Mexico State Fair 4th Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Joseph Gachupin is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1953 into the Jemez Pueblo. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay using ancient traditional methods from his wife, Caroline Gachupin. His sister-in-law, Emily Tsosie taught Joseph all the fundamentals of working with natural pigments found within the Jemez Pueblo. She also taught him special methods to apply when constructing his masterpieces of art. The lucrative aspect of the business also was inspiration for him to continue the long lived legacy of working with clay. When Joseph first began constructing his art he was occasionally teased about doing women’s work until he became more successful and won more awards for his accomplishments.

Joseph specializes in hand pinched and hand molded corn maidens and corn sculptures. He gathers his clay, soaks the clay, screens for impurifications, hand mixes with other pigments, hand pinches each kernel of corn, hand shapes, hand paints, and fires outdoors, with cedar chips. The paints are all derived from natural plants and minerals which are collected and boiled together by Joseph. He signs his art as: J.R. Gachupin, Jemez.

 Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-Denver Arts and Crafts Show

-Dallas Arts and Crafts Show

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

Laura is undoubtedly one of the finest potters to emerge from Jemez Pueblo in the past 25 years. Laura's mother, Marie G. Romero, was one of the people responsible for the renaissance in Jemez pottery in the 1970s. For many years Jemez has produced only sun-dried. poster-painted pottery of low quality. In the 1970s, Marie, with a few other potters, began to make traditional pueblo pottery in terms of technique but with unique styles due to the fact that there was not any traditional "Jemez" style. Laura benefited from her mother's guidance and took Jemez pottery to new heights of styles and quality. Much of what pottery is produced at Jemez today is derivative of Laura's work. She has won many, many awards at numerous shows and remains one of the most sought after of Jemez potters.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Born November 17, 1955 to Andrea Tsosie. Rebecca has been working with pottery for 12 years. She combines the designs from the Zia Pueblo with those of her home, Jemez Pueblo. She does not enter her work for competition.

Wilma M. Gachupin, “Sacred Rock Basket”, is a full blooded Native American Indian, born into the Pueblo of the Jemez, in 1957. Wilma was inspired to learn the art of pottery making by her brother, Kenneth Sando. She has been working with clay since the age of 28.

Wilma specializes in the natural hand coiled and hand painted storytellers, nativity’s, and corn maidens. However, she was  taught all the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery. Wilma gathers clay and other natural pigments within the Jemez Pueblo, and cleans, hand mixes, hand shapes, and paints her sculptures using all natural colors by herself. Wilma’s storytellers always have really big bright eyes, and she said “I got the idea from my daughter, Megan, when she was born with bright eyes.” Wilma signs her pottery as: Wilma M. Gachupin, Jemez.

Wilma is related to the following artists: Kenneth Sando (brother), Megan Gachupin and Kayla Gachupin (daughters).

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-Eighth Northern Arts & Crafts Show

-Towa Arts & Crafts Show

-New Mexico State Fair

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

Elliott & Zelda Garcia, members of the Sun Clan and Parrot Clan, are full blooded Native American Indians from the Pueblo of Acoma. Elliott was born in 1947 and Zelda was born in 1967. They were inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery crafting by their creativity, and economic motivation.

They specialize in hand crafting ceramic pottery. Each piece of pottery that they craft has special meaning: White pottery represents Mother Earth.and Sunce and sunrise represents clan origin. Bear and bear claw represents power, straight, and long life. Feathers represent spirits up above. Lizards and turtles represent good luck. Pueblos represent Acoma Sky City. The colors they use also represent elements of the earth like: red and yellow represent the sun, blue represents the sky. Black represents the clouds and mountains. The fine lines represent the rain that is one of the oldest designs used. They etch and craft all these symbols on their pottery freehand, no stencils are involved.They sign their pottery as: Zel Sun Rise, followed by a sun symbol to denote their clan origin.

They are related to the following artists: Shana, Lynette, Janet Garcia (daughters), and Wilfred Garcia (brother).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Evangeline Garcia and Helen Piaso are sisters that have teamed up to make authentic Navajo handmade dolls. Evangeline was born in 1959 and Helen was born in 1941. They were born into the Navajo Nation. They were inspired to continue the family tradition, and to learn the art of doll making from their Mother, Hannah Garcia. Evangeline was 14 years old when she began experimenting with cloth dolls. Helen was 20 years old when she decided to make cloth dolls. They were also economically motivated to create a form of art.

They were taught all the fundamentals of sewing. They use cloth, sequins, beads, wool, yarn, and cotton, to stitch together cloth dolls and figurines like: corn grinders, horses, story tellers, and Navajo ladies with babies.

They are related to: Jenny and Johnny Manuelito.

Gloria “Goldendrod” Garcia is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1942 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She was taught all the fundamentals of constructing pottery vessels using the ancient traditional way by members of her Pueblo.

                  Goldenrod specializes in hand coiled and sgrafitto seed jars. She gathers her raw clumps of clay, volcanic ash, and natural vegetation from within the Santa Clara Pueblo. She breaks down the clumps of clay and the volcanic ash into a fine powder form and hand mixes it with water to produce a fine medium, once that has been obtained she begins rolling the clay out into long snake like coils and begins hand building her vessels, once the pottery has taken form it is set out to dry. When the pottery has dried she sands each piece by hand to smooth out any rough edges. She hand polishes and hand etches her designs without any stencils. Her designs range in a wide variety of horses, buffalo, corn maidens, Avanyu (serpent believed to protect Pueblo People), butterflies, rain clouds, deer, bears, bear paws, and redwing blackbirds. Goldenrod completes her masterpieces by offering a traditional outdoor firing. She signs her pottery as: Goldendrod. She is related to: John Garcia (husband), Jason Garcia, John David Garcia, Jr. (sons), and Petra Gutierrez (mother).

Publications:

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Miniatures of the Southwest

-American Indian Art Magazine 1978 & 1978

-Indian Artist Magazine 1990 & 1996

Awards:

-2001 New Mexico State Fair 4th Place

-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-1994 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1992 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-1990 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1989 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1988 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-1986 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-1983 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1981 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-1979 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-1978 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-1977 Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Division

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Greg Garcia was born in 1961. He is a full blooded Native American Indian. He is half San Juan and half Santa Clara. He was inspired to make pottery at the age of 14 by his Grandmother, Severa Tafoya. She taught him all the fundamentals of making traditional pottery. She also encouraged him to continue the long lived family tradition of working with clay.

Greg specializes in the hand coiled traditional black and red Santa Clara pottery. He gathers his clay from the sacred grounds within the Santa Clara Pueblo. He hand cleans the clay, mixes, hand coils, shapes, and fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors, with horse manure. He also will polish his pottery to add a great shine on his masterpieces. Greg signs his pottery as: Greg Garcia, San Juan/Santa Clara.

Greg is related to the following artists: Tina Garcia (sister) and Angela Baca (aunt).

Awards:

-1998 Gallup Intertribal Arts & Crafts Show

  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place

-1994 Gallup Inter-Tribal Arts & Crafts Show

  Best in show

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

Loretta Garcia, “U-Wi-Nit”, was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1956. She was inspired and encouraged to learn the art ofpottery making by her Mother, Marie Torivio. Marie taught Loretta all the fundamentals of pottery making, the traditional way, from start to finish. She was also economically motivated to make her pottery.

Loretta specializes in hand coiled traditional pottery. She gathers her clay from a sacred ground within the Acoma Pueblo. Loretta soaks the clay, cleans, sifts, mixes, hand coils,shapes, paints, and fires her pottery, the traditional way, outdoors, with pottery shards and manure. She hand coils many  different shapes and sizes of pottery. She paints geometrical and traditional designs on her pottery. Loretta also paints on ceramic pottery. Loretta says, “I am proud to be able to continue the tradition, that my ancestors began many years ago. It brings peace to my mind  knowing that I am contributing to their legacy.” Loretta signs her pottery as: L. Garcia, Acoma.

Loretta is related to the following artists: Nelda Lucero (sister) and Leslie Garcia (daughter).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Marcus “Red Corn Child” and Virginia Garcia are both full blooded Native American Indians that were born into the Acoma Pueblo. Marcus was born in 1937 and they are both members of the Sun Clan. Marcus was inspired to continue the family tradition of hand coiling pottery from his late Mother, Jessie Garcia. As a young child, Jessie taught Marcus all the fundamentals of pottery making the traditional way. He has seriously been making pottery since he was 17 years of age. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a roll in their interest in pottery making.

Marcus and Virginia specialize in re-creating early or pre historical pottery and bowls. They both contribute equally to their hard work. All of their pottery is made by the traditional hand coiling method. He extracts his colors from minerals and natural plant life surrounding the Acoma Pueblo. Marcus and Virginia are known for their hand painted lizard patterns on pre-historic pottery.

They sign their pottery as: V. Garcia , Acoma, NM.

They are related to Tina Garcia (sister) who is also a practicing artist.

Awards:

-1989 New Mexico State Fair 1st & 2nd Place

-1992 Jemez Pueblo Arts & Crafts Show 1st Place

-1995 Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial 2nd Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Sally R. Garcia, “Gah-Wee-Nah-Zah” (running brook), is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1940 into the Laguna Pueblo. Sally was inspired to continue a long lived tradition of working with pottery from within her heart. She strongly believes in keeping tradition alive and prosperous. She began carving on pottery at the age of 19 in 1959.

Sally is credited as the first pioneer for hand etchings on ceramic pottery.

Sally specializes in hand etching animals, Mudheads (clowns), flowers, and mimbres designs on ceramic pottery. Much of Sally’s etchings are stories of nature, which she is very proud and inspired by. She etches her designs with a simple tool, like a carving blade. Sally uses no stencils or other means to etch her intricate etchings. She currently is concentrating on etching ceramic horse hair pottery. Her etchings add a unique flare and compliment the horse hair pottery quite nicely. Sally has definitely proven herself as a true artisan with her intricate etch work. She signs her art work as: SGarcia, Laguna, N.M. or as: Sally R. Garcia, Laguna, N.M.

Sally is related to: Paul Lucario, Jr. (brother), Arthur Lucario (brother), Darren Pasquale (Nephew), Santana Antonio (grandmother), and Mildred Antonio (aunt).

Awards:

-1979 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-1980 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-1981 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000

  Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Tina Garcia is a full blooded Native American Indian born in 1957 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. Pueblo children are seldom taught to make pottery. They learn by watching and experimenting with clay on their own. She was inspired to learn the art of pottery making from Lydia Garcia (mother), Angela Baca (aunt), and Severa Tafoya (grandmother). As a young child, Tina observed them with a careful eye in hopes that someday she to would be able to add to the legacy of an artisan. Tina displayed a strong interest in continuing the family tradition of pottery making, at the age of 11. Her mother began to share traditional pottery making knowledge with her. Tina began hand coiling pottery for a living in 1980. She enrolled in the School of American Research to study older traditional pottery.

Tina specializes in handmade traditional Santa Clara pottery (black or red). All of her materials are provided for her from elements of the earth. She gathers her own clay, cleans, mixes, shapes, coils, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Her pottery shows remarkable gift for form, and her polish is of superior quality. Today, Tina continues to produce only the finest quality of pottery, and her capability of making large pieces are a success. They range from 20” to 25” in height and diameter. Tina has worked with many prestigious pottery demonstrations and has assisted in producing a video along with Bruce Hucko for the Wheel Wright Museum in Santa Fe, N.M. about traditional pottery in our current era.

Tina has won awards too numerous to list and she is referenced in several publications. Her pottery is definitely an art to behold for generations to come.

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery                          

  Anasazi to Zuni

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750

  Artist Biographies

Wilfred Garcia, Jr., is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1954 into the Acoma Pueblo. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from his mother-in-law, the late Stella Shutiva. She taught him all the fundamentals of working with clay and using the ancient traditional methods that have been passed down from generation to generation. Wilfred was very artistically inclined as a young boy and thus sparked his interest in pursuing a career as a pottery artisan.

Wilfred has established himself as a fine contemporary pottery artisan. He gathers clumps of  natural clays from within the Acoma Pueblo. He breaks down the clumps into a fine powder form which he  hand mixes with sand and water to temper the clay. Then, he rolls his moist clay into snake like coils and begins building his pottery into the desired shape. He creates many shapes of pottery vessels such as: seedpots, vases, and Mesa Verde motif vases with ladders. Once his vessels are built he sets them out to dry. Once his formed pottery vessels are dry he sands them down for a smooth finish. Finally, Wilfred fires his pottery in a kiln. He signs his pottery as: WGarcia, Acoma. Wilfred states: “Making pottery for over 12 years has given me joy and love for my art. I take my time with every piece that I construct so that each piece is special”. He is related to: Jackie Histia-Shutiva (sister-in-law) and Sandra Garcia (spouse).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Beyond Tradition

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-American Indian Art

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market Best In Show

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market Honorable Mention

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Shawna Garcia-Rustin is a full blooded Native American Indian.  She was born in December of 1969 into the Acoma Pueblo, and is a member of the Red Corn Clan family.  She learned the ancient art of working with clay from her parents in 1991. They taught her all the fundamentals of continuing the long lived ancient tradition of pottery making, using the hand coiling methods her ancestors used before her.  She currently collaborates with Patrick Rustin, who was born into the Apache Tribe from California in 1970, and together this team makes the finest contemporary pottery created today.

Shawna and Patrick specialize together as a  team to create the thinnest of all hand coiled abstract pottery vessels.  They gather their raw clumps of clay and all natural vegetation needed for constructing their art from within the Acoma Pueblo.  They break the clumps of clay into a fine powder form and mix it with water and other natural pigments.  Once the clay is mixed, they begin rolling it out into snake like coils and they begin building the vessels.  Once the vessels are created they are set out to dry, and when they are dried they are hand sanded and, finally hand painted with all natural slips applied with an authentic yucca stem that was fashioned into a brush. They are related to Elliott & Beatrice Garcia (parents).  They sign the pottery as S. Garcia, Acoma N.M. or Garcia-Rustin.

Awards:

-1997 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-1998 New Mexico State Fair Best of Show

-2000 New Mexico State Fair Best of Show

-2000 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

John F. Gonzales is a full blooded Native American Tewa Indian from the San Ildefonso Pueblo. After a distinguished academic career at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gonzales worked in a series of administrative and management positions. In 1987 he was elected by Tribes throughout the United States as President of the National Congress of American Indians. He was the youngest person ever elected to that position with the Bush Administration as a Consultant working with Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan in establishing the National Indian Gaming Commission. Early in 1991, Gonzales decided that he needed to return home to New Mexico and to reinvolve himself in Pueblo life. Little did he know this would lead to a career change.

With the encouragement of his father, Lorenzo, a well-established potter, Gonzales immersed himself into the ancient tradition of working with clay. He attributes the ease of his transition from a life in politics to a career in art to the assistance of his father and sister. They made clay, slips, and polishing stones available, but, more importantly, they shared their expertise. It didn’t take long for Gonzales to realize that he had a gift for working with clay. his doubts about whether or not he could make a living from his art work soon vanished.

In 1994 John Gonzales won the prestigious Southwest Association for Indian Art (SWAIA).Quail Run Fellowship. Events in 1995 led him to become more involved with the SWAIA Organization, the sponsor of the world class showcase of Indian Art-the Santa Fe Indian Market. He served on Board of Directors and served as Chairman in 1997. In October, 1998 he was honored with being inducted into the Stanford University American Indian Alumni Hall of Fame.

Gonzales has exhibited at the Santa Fe Indian Market, Eight Northern Indian Pueblos, Council Arts and Crafts Show, Eiteljorg Museum Indian Art Market in Indianapolis, Southwest Museum Indian Art show in Los Angeles, and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair in Phoenix. His pottery was selected for the opening exhibit at the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University in January, 1999. His is especially grateful that he chose to come home when he did, since he lost his father in 1995, his mother and older brother in 1996.

The change in careers allowed him to spend precious time with his parents.  “The natural clays I gather from Mother Earth sustains me and provides me with a spiritual sense of well-being,” he asserts. He firmly believes he was touched by the Creator and blessed with his artistic talent late in his life so that he could work side by side with his father and at the same time take care of his diabetic mother. “Their spirit moves through me and lies within each piece of pottery I create,” Gonzales concludes. His artistic career is dedicated to their memory.

Rita Gurley is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Navajo Nation in 1950. She grew up in Houck, A.Z. in the reservation. At the age of 21 she married Joseph Gurley and decided to move away and begin her new life. She was taught to make artifacts from several different members of her family.The lucrative aspect of the business also was a key role in her inspiration to learn to craft art. She has been making artifacts since 1989.

Rita specializes in hand making contemporary replications of ancient artifacts that were useful tools and were essential to the lifestlye of her ancestors, which consist of bow & arrows, ceremonial rattles, tomahawks, spears, and pipes. Rita uses many different materials on her art like: leather, rawhide, wooden beads, turkey feathers, antler bones, authentic horse hair, metal, and seed beads. With all these raw materials, Rita uses her artistic imagination and makes some of the most interesting traditional artifacts from an unforgotten legacy. Rita really enjoys her God given talent. She says it soothes her mind and takes her back to a time when life was much more simple.

Rita is related to Vernie Nez who also constructs artifacts and weaves navajo rugs.

Awards:

-1998 New Mexico State Fair 1st place

-1997 New Mexico State Fair 1st place

Gary Gutierrez, “P’aa-Ay-P’in”, or “Deer Mountain”,was born in 1967 to the Santa Clara Pueblo-Tewa. He began working with clay at the age of  9. Through out this time he also began to sell his art successfully. Gary was inspired to make pottery by the Anasazi people.

Gary specializes in hand making what he calls Anasazi figurines. He said, “To me they represent a time, when life was simple and balanced in this world.” Gary’s favorite one’s to mold are the figures that hold the pottery. Gary signs his pottery as: Gary Gutierrez, Santa Clara, followed by the month and year they were sculpted.

Gary is related to the following artists: Paul Gutierrez, Dorothy Gutierrez (parents), Luther Gutierrez (grandfather), Margaret Gutierrez (aunt), Lela Gutierrez, and Van Gutierrez (great grandparents).

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market (2) 1st Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market (1st numerous times)

-New Mexico State Fair (1st numerous times)

-Gallup Inter Tribal Ceremony (1st 1993-1995)

-Bank of Santa Fe 1985 artist under 18 yrs.

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Collections of Southwest Pottery

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Julie was born in 1965 and has been potting since 1977. She learned to work the clay from her mother, Victoria Gutierrez, and also counts two sisters, Effie Garcia and Sally M. Gutierrez, as inspiration. Julie often makes animals and a mushroom shape of her own creation, in addition to more traditional pottery shapes. Her trademark design is a swirling sgraffito pattern that mimics flowers or a spider's web in both red- and blackware. On occasion, Julie likes to work with her husband, Johnny Tapia, also of Santa Clara.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

This fine lady was one-half of the famous potting duo of Margaret and Luther. Margaret and Luther were siblings -- the children of another well known potting combination -- Lela and Van. Lela and Van created a very distinctive style based on multiple colored slips and paints and this style was continued and modified somewhat by Margaret and Luther. Upon Luther's death in 1989, Margaret continued to work with the assistance of Luther's daughter Pauline, but Pauline died shortly thereafter. Since that time, Margaret has continued the tradition alone creating fine figurines and pots in a most unique style. More information may be found in the Dillingham book "Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery" page 176.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Paul and Dorothy Gutierrez have been married since 1965, and have two sons, Paul Gutierrez Jr. and Gary Gutierrez. Dorothy was born in 1940 and is a Navajo woman. Her mother is a weaver who weaves belts. Paul Sr. was born is 1936 and is a Tewa Pueblo Indian. They are very well known for their Black Mudhead Figurines. The mudheads are now what we call "Koshares" and they take part in the Indian ceremonial dances as clowns. They are made to put a smile on your face and to remind you not to take life so seriously all of the time. Paul's parents were both well know potters by the names of Lela and Vann Gutierrez. Paul has two sisters. Margaret Gutierrez, in her late fifties, to out knowledge still makes pottery. She specializes in polychrome bowls and figurines. Paul's late sister, Pauline Gutierrez, taught him the art of pottery making. Paul's niece, Stephanie Naranjo, also makes polychrome figurines. The Gutierrez family biography can be found in many books including "The fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery," by Rick Dillingham.

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Ethel “Turquoise Rock” Gutierrez-Yazza is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1959 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. Ethel began working with clay at the age of 5. She was taught all the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional black pottery and using the ancient traditional methods in the process, which were past down from generation to generation. The lucrative aspect of the business also inspired her to become an artisan.

Ethel specializes in stone polished black Santa Clara pottery. She gathers her clumps of clay from within the Santa Clara Pueblo. Then, Ethel soaks the clay to break it down. She mixes the clay with volcanic ash along with other natural elements. She begins the hand coiling methods and hand shapes her pottery. After the pottery is formed she begins carving her pottery with meaningful designs known to her people. Her carvings include serpents, kiva steps, feathers, and water waves which all symbolize important religious beliefs to her people. She signs her pottery as: Ethel Yazza, Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Effie Garcia, Julie Gutierrez, Sally Gutierrez-Tafoya (sisters), and Eugene Gutierrez (brother) are among a few of her relatives continuing the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery.

Awards:

-Eighth Northern Arts & Crafts Show 2nd Place

Publications:

-Focus Magazine

-Cowboys & Indians Magazine

Clyde Harris, “Lomatuhksi”, Eagle Down, was born into the Hopi Nation back in 1982, member of the Flute Deer clan. He was inspired to carve on wood by his Father, Gene Dawahoya. He would sit and watch his father carve his sculptures with great enthusiasm and admiration in hopes of achieving the same skills. It appears from what he has sculpted, he is well on his way to achieve his goal.

Clyde began carving on wood at the age of 12, in 1994. He takes strolls along the Rio Grande River in search of decent sizes of cotton wood tree roots to carve on. He carves his sculptures with a regular pocket knife. Clyde uses acrylic paints to color his kachinas.

The first piece he carved was a rattle kachina.

Clyde signs his sculptures as: Clyde Harris, Hopi, name of the Kachina, and followed by a set of hoof prints to denote his clan origin.

Clyde is related to the following artists: Gene Dawahoya (father), Nuvadi Dawahoya (uncle), Delwin Harvey (uncle), and Juanita Healing (grandmother), famous potter.

Robert Harris, Jr. was born into the Hopi Reservation on January 4, 1984. He is a  member of the Flute Deer clan. He was inspired to carve on wood by his Father, Robert Harris, Sr. He would sit and watch his father carve his sculptures with great enthusiasm and admiration in hopes of achieving the same skills. It appears from what he has sculpted, he is well on his way to achieve his goal.

Robert began carving on wood at the age of 11, in 1995. He takes strolls along the Rio Grande River in search of decent sizes of cotton wood tree roots to carve on. He carves his sculptures with a regular pocket knife. Robert hand paints his kachinas with acrylic paints. His favorite kachina to carve is the Whipper Kachina. Robert signs his sculptures as: Robert Harris, Jr., Hopi, and followed by a set of hoof prints to denote his clan origin.

Robert is related to the following artists: Robert Harris, Sr. (father), Clyde Harris (brother), Nuvadi Dawahoya (uncle), Delwin Harvey (uncle), and Juanita Healing (grandmother), famous potter.

Jimmy Harrison is an authentic Native American Indian.  He is a member of the Red House Clan.  He was born into the Navajo Reservation in 1952.  Jim began his professional career as a jewelry craftsman in 1981.  He was taught all the fundamentals of working with silver at the age of 16 when he enrolled in a silversmithing class in high school.  He credits Preston Monongya and Jessie Monongya for his success as a fine jewelry artisan.  They shared their techniques with him and opened up his mind to his own designs.  His designs are reflective of the bright stars of the New Mexico nights and the geometric forms of the landscape.  They all play a part in his finely detailed inlay jewelry.  With sleek and contemporary shapes and designs, he manages to balance the flavor of tradition with his stylized approach to Indian imagery.  It is believed that Preston, Jesse, and Jim were among the first jewelers to work extensively with inlay of multicolored stones and shells with silver.  His designs continue to change and they include Hopi and Navajo Sunfaces, and the Yei- bei-chei.  He experiments with landscapes and  galaxies.  On occasion, Jim adds a rug design as a border to his beautiful designs.  The work of Jimmy Harrison is very distinctive and easily recognizable.  He works primarily with sterling silver and  authentic multi-colored inlayed stones such as, coral, turquoise, lapis, sugalite, mother of pearl stones, and other various materials.  His colorful and innovative inlays in his jewelry are inspired by the natural gifts that Mother Earth and Father Sky provide to each and every one of us.   His creations include rings, necklaces, bolos, bracelets, earrings, and concho belts.  He stamps his jewelry as, Jimmy Harrison.

Awards:

-Northern Arizona Museum Best of Show

-Navajo Nation Fair Best of Show

-Eight Northern Pueblo Art Show Best of Show

-1988 Best of Show Santa Fe Indian Market

-Others too numerous to list

Publications:

-American Indian Jewelry I 1,200 Artist Biographies

Delwyn Harvey, “Wea” (One of a kind), was born into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation in 1965. He is a member of the Kachina Crow Clan. Delwyn has been carving Hopi kachinas since 1978. He is a self taught artist. The lucrative aspect of the business is what has inspired Delwyn to continue his family tradition of carving dolls on wood.

Delwyn hand carves cottonwood root into magnificent full bodied kachina dolls with a simple tool like a pocket knife. His carvings are carved with extreme precision and detail. He applies acrylic paints to his dolls and paints them very carefully because it is essential for the Hopi People to represent the kachina as accuratly as possible. Many of his dolls are carved from one continuous piece of cottonwood. Some of his dolls are sought by collector’s all over the world. Delwyn signs his dolls as: D. Harvey.

There are over 300 known kachinas from the Hopi Reservation alone. Kachinas are believed to be the spiritual guardians of the Indian way of life. The good that comes from a careful study of kachina carvings is the express intent of being in harmony with nature and the fine art of offering spiritual graditude.

Delwyn is related to the following artists: Nuvadi Dawahoya (brother-in-law) and Gene Dawahoya (brother-in-law).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place 1999

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place 2000

Goldie A. Hayah was given the Indian name of “Shro Te Ma”. She is a  member of the Turkey Clan, and she is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1956 into the Acoma Pueblo. She was inspired to learn the art of working with clay,  by observing  her mother and other members of her Pueblo hand coil their pottery. She has been hand coiling pottery for over 35 years now.

Goldie specializes in handmade and ceramic pottery with hand painted animals and flower designs. She gathers her clay from within the hills of  the Acoma Pueblo. She breaks the clumps of raw clay to a powder form. Then, she cleans and sifts the powder for impurities, hand mixes with other natural pigments, hand shapes, allows the pottery to dry, hand sands with sand paper, and hand paints her designs. Finally, she fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors with wood chips. Among her favorite designs to paint, she enjoys hand painting parrots, bears, and antelopes. She signs her pottery as: Goldie Haya, Acoma, N.M. She is related to: Jackie Histia (cousin), Darren Pasquale (cousin), and Tina Garcia (aunt).

Awards:

-1998 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Christine, “Aggie”, Henderson-Poncho was born in 1973. She is a full blooded Native American Indian. Aggie was raised in the Acoma Pueblo, but is half Apache and half Pima. Aggie began experimenting with pottery in 1985 at the age of 15. She was inspired by her Mother-in-law, Marilyn Ray-Henderson, who is one of the finest clay sculpture artists hand making storytellers today .

Aggie specializes in hand making traditional storytellers with natural paints and clays. She also makes a wide variety of various clay sculptures and will on occasion paint on ceramic pottery. Marilyn Ray-Henderson taught Aggie all the fundamentals of pottery making, like: where to dig up the clay and how to clean, mix, shape, paint, and fire her pottery sculptures using ancient methods. Aggie has perfected her pottery making skills through the years. Aggie signs her pottery as: “Aggie”, Acoma NM, followed by the year the pottery was made.

Aggie is related to the following artists: Crystal Poncho, Tina Poncho (sisters), Chris S. Martinez (mother), and Yolanda Paytiamo (aunt).

Awards:

-Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial 2nd place

-New Mexico State Fair

Helen Henderson is a full blooded Native American Indian, she was born in the small but active village of Jemez (Walatowa) located about 55 miles from Albuquerque, N.M. She is a member of the Eagle Clan.  Helen comes from a long line of potters, originating with her Great Grandmother, Maria Sanchez Colaque, she is also distantly related to Maria Martinez, the extremely famous potter known for her black on black pottery. She mastered the art of hand coiling pottery by watching and assisting her family members.  Helen has been working continuously with clay art forms since 1987.

Helen has chosen to follow the foot steps of her mother, Vangie Tafoya who has developed her own unique style of flawless freehand designs of exquisite hummingbirds, water serpents, flowers, and feathers and accents them with authentic turquoise stones. Her pottery grabs the attention of viewers, allowing them to experience her living art and unique designs. Helen uses all natural materials and paints which she harvests from within the Jemez Pueblo. Helen signs her pottery as: Helen Henderson, Jemez, followed by a eagle feather as her own singular trademark, to denote her clan origin.

Helen is also related to the following artists: Brenda Tafoya (sister), Maria Sanchez Colaque (great grandmother).

Awards:

-1988 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-New Mexico State Fair Various Years

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Native Peoples Magazine 1997 Edition

-Indian Market Magazine 1998 & 1999

Edwin Herrera “Ie-yoo-ris” is a full blooded Native American Indian. He is a member of the Oak Clan. Edwin was born in 1966 into the Cochiti Pueblo. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from his mother, Mary Frances Herrera. She taught him all the fundamentals of working with clay, using the ancient traditional methods passed on to her from their ancestors during the process. He began experimenting with clay in the early 1980’s while attending High School. This was his means of making money so that he could attend school dances, games, and other school functions. He is currently one of the few pottery artists that currently continue the long lived family tradition of working with clay pottery. He admired the artistic style of other artisans and motivated himself to create his own unique style of art.

Edwin gathers his clay and sand from within the hills of the Cochiti Pueblo. He hand mixes, hand coils, shapes, hand paints, and fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors, using cedar wood chips. Edwin specializes in hand sculpted wildlife and southwestern nativity’s, bear sculptures, and hand coiled traditional pottery bowls. He boils his own natural minerals and vegetables to produce his colors used on his art. The designs which are painted on his pottery are from ancient Cochiti Pueblo designs. He signs his art as: Edwin Herrera, Cochiti, N.M. He is related to Dorothy Herrera and Mary R. Herrera (sisters).

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Irene Herrera, “Apple Flower” was born in 1942. She is half Zia and half Jemez. Irene was inspired to hand coil pottery using ancient traditional methods passed down to her by her mother, Andrea Tsosie. Irene was 8 years old when she sparked an interest in pottery making. She would sit and observe Andrea hand coil and paint her pottery, and at the age of 12 she started to paint on pottery. The lucrative aspect of the business was also inspiration for her to learn the art of pottery making. However, it is more of a hobby for Irene to contribute to the art world.

Irene specializes in the traditional Zia Pueblo hand coiled and hand painted pottery. She gathers her clay within the Zia Pueblo. Then, she grinds, hand cleans the clay, mixes, hand coils, shapes, paints and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Irene hand coils a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The colors she uses on her pottery are also natural pigments. She said “I enjoy making pottery because it comes from within my heart and it’s a gift to make my pottery.” Irene signs her pottery as: Irene Herrera, Zia.

Irene is also related to the following artists: Leonard Tsosie, Rebecca Tsosie-Gachupin, and Joanne Tsosie-Toribio.

Awards:

-Eighth Northern Art Show Best of Show

-Eighth Northern Art Show 2nd place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Jackie Histia-Shutiva is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1961 into the Acoma Pueblo. She is a member of the Sun Clan and the Yellow Corn Child Clan. Jackie was taught the traditional methods used by her ancestors from her mother, Stella Shutiva at the age of 19. Stella shared all the fundamentals of working with clay and using ancient hand coiling methods.

Jackie specializes in hand coiled, traditional, contemporary, corrugated pottery. She gathers her clumps of raw clay from within the Acoma Pueblo. Then she breaks down the clumps into a fine powder form and mixes with sand to temper the clay. Once the clay has been properly cleaned and mixed Jackie begins the hand coiling process by rolling the clay into snake like coils and building a vessel to a desired shape and size. Then, she hand pinches her thumbnails into the clay to give it that corrugated  look. Finally, she fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. On occasion Jackie also hand crafts clay corn symbols in her clay to denote her Clan origin. Jackie hand coils a wide variety of shapes and sizes of pottery. She signs her pottery as: Histia Shutiva, Acoma, NM. She is related to: Ernest D. Shutiva (father), Stella Shutiva (mother), B. Gregory Histia (spouse), Shelly Shutiva, Alicia Shutiva, and Lindsey Shutiva (daughters).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

-Eight Northern Arts and Crafts Show

-Southwest Indian Arts Show

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Talking With The Clay

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Marcus Homer was born in 1971 into the Zuni Pueblo. He was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making from his ancestors. He began experimenting with pottery making at the age of 7, back in 1978.

Marcus specializes in a unique style of hand coiled cornmeal bowls and fetish bowls. Corn meal vessels are used for religious ceremonies, whereas fetish bowls are used for healing powers and good fortune from the four directions of Mother Earth. He also makes a wide variety of shapes and sizes of other contemporary and traditional styled pottery, even though he is most known for his unique contemporary fetish bowls accented with lizards, frogs, serpents, and tadpoles. He enjoys making them the most because he can express himself in so many different ways. All of Homer’s pottery is made from Mother Earth, the traditional way. Homer signs his pottery as: M. Homer, year pottery was made, followed by a bear paw, and Zuni.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

-Northern Arizona Museum Art Show

-Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial Art Show

-Heard Museum of Phoenix

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Treasures of the Zuni

Cheyenne (Diane Lynn) Jim is a full blooded Native American Indian born in 1957 into the Navajo Nation. Cheyenne was raised with a rich Navajo cultural tradition. At the age of six, she accompanied her grandmother, who is a “medicine woman”, to a Ye’II bi Cheii ceremony (a nine night winter ceremony of the Navajo People, where dozens of deities are presented each night wearing masks). This made a great impact on the young Cheyenne.

Despite Cheyenne’s cultural influence, her sculptures do not reflect Navajo or Indian traditions. For instance, her recent masks and clay sculptures possess partial cubism (Pablo Picasso), another strong influence from her college years at Bacone, where she studied art. Cheyenne attended College at Bacone College in Muskogee, OK. Cubism absolutely fascinated her. For years it stayed in her mind, but she wasn’t confident enough to incorporate it into her work until recently. She is a self-taught artisan from observation. Her schooling did not alter her initial influence from her grandmother (Aasdzaan Doo’al hoshii), whose knowledge on Navajo healing ceremonies and herbology gave her prominent status among her people. She tried not to be analytical on pottery, but that’s what it boiled down to. Eventually, Cheyenne took what she thought were the best techniques to construct her masterpieces, but finding the right clay to work with was tough, that’s where she ran into a lot of difficulty. Although, she works predominately with mica clay, her subjects and themes are varied. Cheyenne’s unique style of art is far from traditional. She is not, nor does she want to be limited by tradition. She was quoted as saying: “A true artist has no tradition to follow, only the freedom to create and be innovative.” All of Cheyenne’s art is handmade and hand painted from start to finish. She signs her art as: Cheyenne Jim.

Publications:

-Storytellers & Other Figurative Pottery

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-Too many to list

Andy Juanico is a full blooded Native American Indian. Hewas born into the Pueblo of the Acoma in 1954. He has been making art since he was 30 years old. He inspired himself to make his art. The lucrative aspect of the business also encouraged him to be creative with his work.

Andy specializes in making artifacts. He uses gem beads, raw hide, artificial senu, leather straps, duck feathers, horse hair, his creative imagination and the results are very rewarding to him. He turns all of those materials into different artifacts like: dream catchers, spears, dance sticks, cou sticks, and anything his mind can possibly imagine.

Andy attaches his own certificate of authenticity with every piece of art that he creates. It lists his name Andy Juanico, census number and tribe affiliation.

Andy is related to the following artists: Marcus Garcia (brother), and Virginia Garcia (sister-in-law), both make pottery.

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies 

Gloria Kahe is a full blooded Native American Indian, born into the Navajo Nation and is a member of the Water Clan. She was born in 1951. Gloria married into a family of fine Hopi potters. She acquired her pottery making techniques from one of the most respected masters of clay, from the Hopi Reservation, Marcella Kahe (mother-in-law). Marcella taught Gloria all the traditional techniques of hand coiling and hand painting the traditional designs of the Hopi people. She has been making pottery since 1986. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key roll in her interest as an artist.

Gloria specializes in traditional hand coiled and hand painted pottery. She has developed her own designs on pottery, so that she can establish a style all her own. All of her materials are dug up within in the Hopi Reservation which surround her home. Native minerals and vegetables are also used for contributing the shades on her pottery. Firing is done outdoors, and sheep dung is used for this process. She hand coils symmetrical shapes and sizes. Gloria has established a reputation as a quality artist and has created a market for her fine collectibles. Gloria signs her pottery as: G. Kahe.

Gloria is related to the following artists: Samuel Kahe (husband) and Valerie Kahe (daughter).

 Awards:

-1996 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1997 Southwest American Indian Arts 1st Place

-Others numerous to list

Publications:

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies 

Alicia Kelsey was born in 1979 into the Acoma Pueblo. She was introduced into pottery making by her Mother, Darla Davis. Darla began involving Alicia with the clay making process at the age of 11.

              Alicia specializes in the handmade traditional styled Acoma pottery with parrots and elements of the earth. Alicia was taught where to get clay from the sacred Pueblo grounds and learned how to clean and grind it to a fine powder. Then she will mix it with pottery shards from other broken pottery in order to recycle the old pottery and reuse it so that nothing goes to waste. She paints with all natural colors. The parrot represents wealth. The rainbow represents the earth and rain. The fine lines represent lightning. The pots were used to carry water on the top of their heads if they were rounded on the bottom. The flat shaped ones were used for storage. She also can paint fine line pottery. Her favorite one to paint is the fine line with the deer pattern. Alicia signs her pottery as: Alicia Kelsey, Acoma, NM.

Alicia is also related to Rachel James (grandmother).

Awards:

-1996 New Mexico State Fair 1st place

-1996 New Mexico State Fair 2nd place

-Window Rock State 2nd place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies 

Alton Komalestewa is Hopi -- related through his father to Nampeyo. He, however, never learned to pot while growing up at Hopi Pueblo. As an adult he married Jeannie Shupla, the daughter of esteemed Santa Clara potter, Helen Shupla and the couple moved to Santa Clara Pueblo. There he was taught to pot by Helen and learned to make her famous style of melon pots. Several years later, both Jeannie and Helen passed away, and Alton moved back to Hopi. There he continued to produce pottery in the Helen Shupla style, only with Hopi clay. Recently (2001) he has returned to the Santa Clara Pueblo area and is again potting with local clays and slips. His magnificent pots are the only heirs to melon pots made famous by Helen Shupla and are among the finest pots being made today.

Wendell Kowemy is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Laguna Pueblo in 1972. He is a member of the Roadrunner Clan. He was taught all the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery using the ancient traditional methods of his ancestors, under the instruction of Evelyn Cheromiah in 1992. He continues the artform of working with fine pottery to add to the legacy of his people.

Wendell specializes in all natural and traditional hand coiled pottery vessels. He gathers his raw clumps of clay from within the sacred grounds of the Laguna Pueblo. He grinds his clumps of clay into sand like grains and hand mixes sand and water to temper the clay. He begins the hand coiling process which involves rolling out the moist clay into snake like coils and hand building his vessels. Once the vessel has taken form he sets his pottery to dry. Wendell hand boils all of his colors from natural pigments and vegetation which is also harvested from within the Laguna Pueblo. Once the vessels are dry and his colors are boiled Wendell begins hand painting a wide variety of designs which include tularosa swirls, checkerboards, finelines. The designs he paints are usually designs which were found on old potter sherds left from hundreds of years ago. Finally, he fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors. He signs his pottery as: Wendell Kowemy, New Laguna. He is related to: Kent Kowemy (father), Wendy Cheromiah (mother), Marisa Kowemy, and Aerial (sisters).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies 

Carmel Lewis was born in 1947 into the Acoma Sky City Pueblo. She is one of the daughters of the world renowned late, Lucy M. Lewis. Lucy was Carmels biggest inspiration for learning the ancient traditional methods of working with natural handmade pottery. Carmel gathers her clay from the pits within the Acoma Pueblo.  She cleans her clay by hand to purify the natural ingredients that mother earth has provided her with. She hand mixes, hand coils, and hand paints her pottery using the ancient traditional outdoor firing techniques. Her unique hand painted designs  are replicated from tradition symbols found on ancient pottery sherds. Lucy was the driving force behind the revival of pottery making as an art in the pueblo of Acoma. The Lewis family keeps the same patterns and does not move to a contemporary style because it is very important to them to keep alive true traditions and designs of the ancient mimbres people alive. Some  of the of these designs which are replicated are the deer pot, lighting bolt pattern, and the many variations of the mimbres patterns. She is related to Emma Lewis-Mitchell, Dolores Lewis-Garcia (sisters), and Drew Lewis (brother).

Publications:

There are numerous  books  referencing Lucy M. Lewis and her daughters, they can be found in:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families in pueblo pottery

-Southwestern pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Talking with the Clay

-American Indian Pottery 2nd Edition

-Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market Various 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place numerous years

-Eight Northern 1st various years

-Heard Museum show

-New Mexico State Fair

-Others received too many to list 

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Diane Lewis was born in 1960 and is a member of the Lewis family from the Acoma Pueblo (no relation to Lucy Lewis, but a family famous for pottery artists just the same). Each member of this fine family of proven artists are exquisite painters. They are well known for fine handmade pottery, storytellers and clay sculptures. Diane began experimenting with the art of working with clay, and at the age of 21 she mastered the craft of hand coiling pottery using natural pigments and focused more on the rules of the ancient traditional methods of firing outdoors.

 Diane specializes in handmade seed jars, small bowls with mimbres and traditional designs. She paints with soft but crisp colors using natural paints applied with a brush fashioned from the stems of a yucca plant. She gathers her natural pigments from within the Acoma Pueblo. Diane signs her pottery as: Diane Lewis, Acoma, N.M. She is related to Marilyn Lewis-Ray, Judy Lewis, Carolyn Lewis-Concho (sisters), and Kathleen Lewis (mother).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

Awards:

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-Eight Northern Pueblos Exhibit 1st, 2nd & 3rd

-Santa Fe Indian Market 1st, 2nd & 3rd various years 

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Andrew Lewis is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1927 into the Acoma Pueblo. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from his mother, the famed late Lucy Lewis. She taught Drew all the fundamentals of working with clay using the ancient traditional methods that were passed down to her from her ancestors from generation to generation. When Drew was a young child only women were responsible for constructing pottery vessels, however, one day he decided he wanted to learn the methods and construct pottery of his own.

Drew specializes in hand coiled and hand painted traditional pottery vessels. He gathers his raw clumps of clay, sand,  and harvests his natural plants which he uses to boil his colors with from within the Acoma Pueblo. He breaks the clumps of clay down to a fine powder form and sifts the powder for impurities. He hand mixes the powder with water and sand to temper the clay. Once that is done, he begins to roll out his clay into snake like coils and begins building his vessels for the desired shape. When he is finished building the vessel he sets it out to dry. Once it is dry he sands his vessel for a smooth finish and prepares it for painting. His colors are all boiled from natural plants and slips that Mother Earth has provided for him. He begins painting with a stem of a yucca plant that has been fashioned into a brush. His designs are all the traditional mimbres designs and parrot motifs that his ancestors painted many years prior to his birth. Finally, he fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors. He signs his pottery as: Drew Lewis, Acoma, N.M. He is related to: Andrew Lewis, Jr., Theodore Lewis (sons), Ivan Lewis (brother), Carmel Lewis, Ann Lewis, Emma Lewis-Mitchell, Delores Lewis-Garcia, and Mary Lewis-Garcia (sisters).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families In Pueblo Pottery

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-New Mexico State Fair  

Judy Lewis is a full blooded Native American Indian from the Pueblo of Acoma and she was born in 1966. She has been making pottery since 1986. Judy was inspired to continue the family tradition of clay sculpting by observing her many of her family members. She was especially motivated by the passion and ambition that her sister, Marilyn Ray-Lewis, showed towards working with clay, and the assistance that she gave to her. Judy hand coils pottery, vases, and storytellers using the methods of her ancestors. She only uses natural pigments for clay and paints. Judy has developed a style of her own. She hand pinches and hand coils a contemporary shape with traditional designs and colors. As with the entire family the colors have a crisp but soft pastel look to them. Judy is related to the following artists: Kathy Lewis (mother), Carolyn Concho Lewis (sister), and Sharon Lewis (sister). She signs her art work as Judy Lewis, Acoma, N.M.

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-Gallup Indian Ceremonial Show

-Eighth Northern Pueblos Exhibit 

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Kathleen Lewis is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Acoma Pueblo on September 26, 1932. Kathleen is a member of the Yellow Corn Clan. Kathleen learned all the fundamentals of working with clay art and using the ancient traditional hand coiling methods by observing friends and family members.  She was a natural at painting her designs at a very young age.

Kathleen specializes in hand painted polychrome black-on-red jars, bowls, effigy pots, and miniatures.  She gathers her natural slips from within the Acoma Pueblo along with the natural vegetation which is used for making the natural colors used to paint the designs.  She begins by breaking up the plant life that she has gathered such as:  spinach plant which provided the black color, yucca stems are fashioned into brushes for painting, and flowers are used for color.  Then, she boils her pigments and plant life to form just the right colors, and then she begins the hand painting process on preformed vessels.  Once the painting has been complete and the paint has dried Kathleen  fires her pottery in a kiln.  The Lewis family is well known for their exquisite hand painted diverse traditional and contemporary designs.  She signs her pottery as: K.L. Lewis or K. Lewis. She is related to: Toribio & Dolores Sanchez (parents), Josephita Sandoval (grandmother), Ethel Shields (sister), Carolyn Concho, Judy Lewis, Marilyn Ray, Diane Lewis, Rebecca Lucario (daughters), and Bernard Lewis (son). 

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies 

Bernard and Sharon Lewis are both a married couple and members of one of the two Lewis families at Acoma Pueblo. A source of confusion for many is the fact that there are two unrelated Lewis families at Acoma. The most famous, of course, is the Lucy Lewis family. However, there is another accomplished Lewis family -- that of Katherine Lewis and her children: Marilyn Henderson Ray, Carolyn Concho, Diane Lewis, Judy Lewis, Rebecca Lucario and Bernard Lewis and his wife, Sharon. Like all members of this family, Bernard and Sharon work with many different colors of paints. Each of the children however, has a distinctive style. Bernard is a potter only and he specializes in pots with three dimensional lizards creeping in and about the pot. Sharon then does the painting of Bernard's pots. Sharon also makes her own pots, always seedpots, decorated with very well painted designs. They are a most talented couple in a very creative family.
 

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Travis and Rosemary Lewis are full blooded Native Americans born into the Santa Clara-Tewa/Pima Pueblo. Travis was born in 1951 and Rosemary was born in 1952. Rosemary began experimenting with pottery at the age of 9. She was inspired to learn the pottery making process from her Mother, Olaria Sisneros. Travis was inspired by Mary Cain, who is also is a famous potter from the Santa Clara Pueblo. They also were economically motivated to continue the family tradition of pottery making.

Travis and Rosemary specialize in the traditional black Santa Clara hand coiled and etched pottery, featuring kokopelli. They both participate in all procedures of the pottery making process. They dig up the clay from a sacred ground within the Santa Clara Pueblo. There is several different stages involved in order to prepare the clay to begin shaping into pottery. They mix, hand coil, shape, etch, and fire the pottery the traditional way, outdoors. They enjoy etching kokopelli (the flute player) on their pottery. They sign their pottery as Rose M. Lewis, Santa Clara Pueblo, followed by the letter T incorporated into a letter L. Travis and Rosemary are related to many other famous potters, among them are Geraldine Naranjo and Kevin Naranjo (cousins).

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies 

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Dolores Lewis was born in 1938 into the Acoma Sky City Pueblo. She is one of the daughters of the world renowned late, Lucy M. Lewis. Dolores has been around great pottery artists her whole life, however, her greatest inspiration came down from her mother, Lucy. Dolores was a self taught artisan, she learned the ancient traditional methods of working with clay by carefully observing Lucy construct her beautiful pottery vessels. Dolores chose to continue the long lived tradition of working with pottery, and using the ancient methods passed down to her from her grandmothers because of the importance to keep her peoples traditions alive. Dolores gathers her own natural pigments and  clays from the clay pits within the Acoma Pueblo. She cleans her clay for impurities by hand, then, she hand mixes, hand coils, hand paints, and uses a traditional firing method to add the finishing touch to her wonderful masterpieces which mother earth has blessed her with. The Lewis family keeps the same patterns and does not move to a contemporary style because it is very important to them to keep alive true traditions and designs of the ancient mimbres people alive. Some of these designs which are replicated are the deer with a heartline, lightning bolt pattern, and the many variations of the mimbres patterns. Lucy  was the driving force behind the revival of pottery making as an art in the Pueblo of the Acoma. Dolores is also related to Emma Lewis-Mitchell, Carmel Lewis (sisters), and Drew Lewis (brother).

Publications:

There are many books on Lucy M. Lewis and her daughters, information on these fine artisans can be found in:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families in pueblo pottery

-Southwestern pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Talking with the Clay

-American Indian Pottery 2nd Edition

-Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market Various 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place numerous years

-Eight Northern 1st various years

-Heard Museum show

-New Mexico State Fair

-Others received too many to list 

Emma Lewis-Mitchell was born in 1931 into the Acoma Sky City Pueblo. She is one of the daughters of the world renowned late, Lucy M. Lewis. Emma was around great pottery artists her whole life, however, her greatest inspiration came down from her mother, Lucy. Emma was a self taught artisan, she learned the ancient traditional methods of working with clay by carefully observing Lucy construct her beautiful pottery vessels. Emma chose to continue the long lived tradition of working with pottery, and using the ancient methods passed down to her from her grandmothers because of the importance to keep her peoples traditions alive. Emma gathers her own natural pigments and  clays from the clay pits within the Acoma Pueblo. She cleans her clay for impurities by hand, then, she hand mixes, hand coils, hand paints, and uses a traditional firing method to add the finishing touch to her wonderful masterpieces which mother earth has blessed her with. The Lewis family keeps the same patterns and does not move to a contemporary style because it is very important to them to keep alive true traditions and designs of the ancient mimbres people alive. Some of these designs which are replicated are the deer with a heartline, lightning bolt pattern, and the many variations of the mimbres patterns. Lucy  was the driving force behind the revival of pottery making as an art in the Pueblo of the Acoma. Emma is also related to Dolores Lewis-Garcia, Carmel Lewis (sisters), and Drew Lewis (brother).

Publications:

There are many books on Lucy M. Lewis and her daughters, information on these fine artisans can be found in:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families in pueblo pottery

-Southwestern pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Talking with the Clay

-American Indian Pottery 2nd Edition

-Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market Various 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place numerous years

-Eight Northern 1st various years

-Heard Museum show

-New Mexico State Fair

-Others received too many to list 

Greg Lonewolf is the son of famed Santa Clara potter Joseph Lonewolf.

Like his father, Greg makes exquisite sgrafitto pottery focusing on wildlife scenes in a polychrome style.

In recent years, Greg has found little time for pottery making as his lifetime interest in firefighting landed him a job with the Espanola Fire Dept. In the past year he has been promoted from Lieutenant to Captain to Battalion Chief. Consequently, he made 7 pots in 2001.

Greg has two talented sisters as well. Susan Romero and Rosemary Lonewolf both pot in the sgrafitto style and are quite well known. The patriarch of this amazing family was Greg's late grandfather, Camilio Sunflower Tafoya.
 

Alma Loretto (Concha) Maestas, “Painted Parrot”, member of the Water Clan was born in 1941. She is half Jemez and half Laguna. She was inspired to continue the tradition of pottery making by her Mother, Carrie Reid Loretto. Alma was introduced into pottery making at the age of 7. Alma specializes in handmade Jemez Pueblo clay figurines, storytellers, koshares, nativity’s, and can also hand coil traditional pottery. She began experimenting with clay and decided that she enjoyed making figurines most. She paints with natural colors and fires her pottery the traditional way. Alma currently signs her pottery as:  ALMA, followed by a water symbol to denote her clan origin. Alma is also related to the following artists: Dorothy, Lupe, Edna, Fannie, Josephine, and the late Mary Loretto, all sisters.

Awards:

-ENIPC Artists and Craftsman Show 1st

-Eighth Northern Indian Pueblos

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-The Pueblo Storyteller

-Nacimientos

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery

-Pueblo Stories and Storytellers

-Featured in National Geographic May 1982

Permanent Collections:

-Smithsonian Museum

-Plymouth Historical Society Museum

-Sipapu Gallery, Plymouth MI

-Other awards, publications and permanent collections too numerous to list

Angie Loretto-Riley, is a full blooded Native American Indian, born into the Pueblo of the Jemez, in 1955. Angie was inspired to learn the art of working with clay by her mother, Lenora Gachupin, at the age of 12, she was taught where to gather the clay, how to mix it, hand coil, paint, and finally, how to fire the pottery, shortly after that she began experimenting with clay and hand making little pots and gradually began making storytellers.

Angie specializes in handmade storytellers but does not limit her abilities to only do that, she also hand coils friendship pots. She enjoys making the larger storytellers, because she likes the challenge, of putting as many babies on the doll, as she can fit onto it. She signs her pottery as Angie Loretto, Jemez.

Angie is related to the following artists: Lucy Toya, Bea Riley (sisters), Felecia Loretto, and Anita Cajero (nieces). 

(Gary pictured left, Irvin on the Right)

Gary Louis and his wife, Corrine, are Acoma potters. Corrine is a third generation potter from the Marie Z. Chino family. Corrine and Gary are carrying on the family tradition of working with pottery. They first came across the idea of using human hair on their pottery when one of her own strands of hair fell on a piece as it was being removed from the oven and scorched the pot. It was from this accident that they decided to use this method to decorate their pottery. The human hair leaves lighter marks than the traditional horsehair. Over several years of trial and error they mastered the art of "Human Hair Pottery." Gary has won several awards at the New Mexico State Fair for his contemporary Acoma pottery. The hair burns when it touches the hot pottery leaving a light stain cooked into it, making a beautiful and unique one of a kind pattern on each piece. The piece is then completely etched by hand.

Check for work by this artist in our Horsehair Pottery section!

(Gary pictured left, Irvin on the Right)

Irvin was born in 1955 on the Acoma Pueblo. His Indian name is "Vines of the Melon" of the Yellow Corn Clan. Irvin was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from his Grandmother and Aunt. Acoma traditions are extremely important to him. He began working with clay at the age of 14. He was taught the fundamentals and methods of hand coiling traditional pottery passed down to him by his family members.

Irvin now specializes in working with contemporary style pottery. He learned the technique of producing the Horse-Hair pottery. The kiln is set to a certain temperature and then the horse hair taken from the main or tail is tossed randomly on the heated pottery. The resulting carbon being drawn into the surface of the pottery creates the wonderful designs and patterns.

All of Irvin's work is Hand Etched. The process of producing the work of art is very time consuming. He is only one of a few Acoma potters that makes Horse Hair Pottery. He signs each piece: Irvin J Louis, Acoma.

Arthur Lucario was born in 1942. He is half Acoma and half Laguna. He started out as a silver smith, where he made jewelry and eventually learned how to craft pottery and hand carve Hopi style kachinas. He was inspired to craft pottery by his sister, Sally Garcia.

Arthur specializes in the hand etched ceramic pottery with the red and black etchings. Arthur also carves kachinas on cotton woodroot. He paints on the colors and then crafts his designs on the pottery. He crafts a wide variety of shapes and sizes. He doesn’t use stencils at all. He draws his designs on the greenware and then etches his pottery. His wife, Velma Lucario will often help Arthur with his art. Arthur signs his pottery as: R&V Lucario, Laguna.

Awards:

-1995 New Mexico State Fair 1st place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies 

Raymond “Ray“ J. Lucario is a full blooded Native American Indian who was born into the Laguna Pueblo in 1971. Ray  was given the Indian name of Sunrise at a young age. Ray was inspired to learn the art of hand carving kachina dolls on cottonwood root by the admiration he had for Hopi artist’s work. He began experimenting with wood at the age of 16, and has continued to perfect his carvings since that time. His family and friends encouraged him to learn some sort of art so that he may add to a long lived legacy of  Native American Indians. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key roll in his decision to become an artist.

Ray hand carves cottonwood root into magnificent full bodied kachina dolls with a simple tool, like a pocket knife. His dolls are carved with extreme precision and detail. He applies acrylic paints to his dolls and paints them very carefully because it is essential to represent the kachina’s as accurately as possible. Ray signs his dolls as: R. Lucario, Laguna.

Ray is related to the following artists: Arthur Lucario (father) and Sally Garcia (aunt).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair various years

Joyce is from the Jemez Pueblo, Fire Clan, and has been making storytellers for over 20 years. She was taught by Mary Lucero, her mother, who is also very well known for her storytellers.

Joyce's work is presented at The Indian Craft Shop, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. and included in Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni by Hayes and Blom, Berger and Schiffer's Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery, and several other publications.

Check for work by this artist in our Jemez Pottery section!

Mary I. Lucero, “Walatowa”, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1957. She was inspired to learn the art of hand coiling and hand pinching pottery, using ancient traditional methods passed to her by her Sister, Virginia Lucero. She learned to construct storytellers at the age of 20 in 1977. Working with clay is also a supplement of income to help raise her children.

Mary specializes in the handmade pueblo style storytellers. She gathers her own clay from the sacred grounds within the Jemez Pueblo. Then, she cleans the clay, mixes, hand coils, shapes, paints, and fires her clay sculptures using ancient methods used by her ancestors. She uses all natural pigments for colors to accent her pottery. Mary was also taught the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery. However, she enjoys making her storytellers thoroughly. According to Mary it is a wonderful way to relax and clear your mind of all the stress involved with being a parent and working full time. Mary signs her pottery as: M.I. Lucero, Jemez. Mary is related to the following artists: Virginia A. Lucero (sister), and Carol Gachupin (cousin).

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Indian Foundation Catalog 

Mary R. Lucero is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1948. Mary was inspired to learn the art of working with clay by her Grandmother, Magnita Lucero. Magnita introduced Mary to the hills that provided the best clay. Then, Mary gathers other natural pigments from the sacred grounds within the Jemez pueblo. Magnita taught Mary how to mix, shape, paint, and fire pottery the traditional way, outdoors. She began hand coiling her pottery at the age of 14, when she would watch her grandmother make her pottery the traditional way.

Mary specializes in the handmade pueblo styled storytellers, but does not limit her abilities. She also makes animals, nativity’s and other clay sculptures. Mary uses natural colors to paint her pottery. Mary signs her pottery as: Mary R. Lucero, Jemez.

Mary is related to the following artists: Carol Gachupin (sister), Mary I. Lucero (cousin), Diane Lucero, and Joyce Lucero (daughters).

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 4th Place

-Jemez Red Rock Art Show 2nd place

Publications:

-Southwestern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

Virginia A. Lucero, member of the Fire Clan, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1964 into the Jemez Pueblo. Virginia was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from her friend, Marie Romero, who comes from a long line of famous pottery artisans. Marie taught Virginia all the fundamentals of working with clay using ancient traditional methods. Marie also shared special techniques to make her tasks easier. Virginia began experimenting with clay at the age of 14. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key role in her becoming an artist.

Virginia specializes in handmade storytellers. She gathers her clay from the hills within the Jemez Pueblo. She soaks the clay, hand grinds the clay, cleans the clay for imperfections, hand mixes, hand coils, hand shapes, and sands the sculpture by hand. Then, Virginia hand paints her finished products and fires her sculptures, outdoors, with cedar chips. The colors Virginia uses to paint her storytellers are boiled together from natural pigments and minerals also found within the Jemez Pueblo. She accents her sculptures with pieces of miniature pottery, painted jewelry, and toys. She signs her sculptures as: V. Lucero, Jemez, followed by a  rain cloud. She is related to the following artists: Carol Lucero-Gachupin, Mary Rose Lucero (cousins), and Mary I. Lucero (sister). 

Lucero-Gauchupin, Carol (Jemez)

Carol Lucero-Gachupin, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Pueblo of the Jemez, in 1958. Carol was inspired to learn the art of hand coiling pottery by Marie Romero, who is well known for making pottery and storytellers. Carol specializes in the Navajo/Hopi, handmade butterfly storytellers. Her styles of storytellers have a nice blanket wrapped around the dolls, or she will make them with a flared skirt.

Carol gathers and sifts her own clays and hand shapes them to her liking, and then fires her figures, outdoors, the traditional way. Carol was quoted as saying: “I love making storytellers because, it reminds me of my grandparents telling us stories when we were growing up.” She signs her storytellers as: Lucero-Gachupin followed by a kiva step symbol. Carol is related to the following artists: Marie Romero, Mary Lucero, and Diane Lucero.

Awards:

-2000 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery 

Leonora Lupe Lucero-Loretto, “Sun Flower”, is a full blooded Native American Indian. Lupe was born in 1943. She is half Jemez and half Laguna. She began making her pottery sculptures at the age of 34. Lupe was inspired to make pottery by her sister, Dorothy Trujillo.

Lupe specializes in the handmade humorous Koshari storytellers, but does not limit herself to that. She also hand coils nativity's and other clay sculptures. She gathers her own clay, sand, and other natural pigments from the hills within the Jemez pueblo, then, she cleans the clay, mixes sand with clay together, and begins to hand coil her sculptures. Lupe also paints her art with the natural colors that she hand mixes as well, and finally, she fires her art the traditional way, outdoors. She add corn stalks to add a bit of flare to her work. Lupe signs her pottery as: L Lupe L Lucero.

Lupe is also related to the following artists: Alma Concho, Marie Loretto, Fannie Loretto, and the late Mary Toya (all sisters).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-The Pueblo Storyteller

-Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery 

Louis & Nadine Mansfield are full blooded Native American Indians from the Laguna Pueblo and the Acoma Pueblo. Louis was born in 1967 and Nadine was born in 1968. They were taught the fundamentals of pottery making from several different artists, including Betty Ramirez-Concho (mother).   The continuance of family traditions is extremely important to these fine artists. Nadine was 17 years of age when her interest in pottery making evolved. She would assist other artisans with their work and Nadine learned several different methods of the clay process.

Louis & Nadine specialize in handmade pottery. They both assist each other in every aspect of working with the clay. They gather natural pigments found within the Acoma Pueblo. They clean, mix, coil, shape, paint, and fire their pottery in a kiln. One of their trademarks is the lizards climbing all over the pottery. The lizards represent good luck and a long life. They make a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and paint intricate traditional patterns. They sign their pottery as: Louis, Nadine Mansfield, Acoma.

Awards:

-1997 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-1998 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place 

Check for work by this artist in our Acoma Pottery section!

Alice Martinez and her son, Ruben have formed a partnership with pottery making. They are from the Pueblo of San Ildefonso/Tewa. Alice is now in her seventies, and has been making pottery since she was twenty years old. Alice was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery from her parents, Richard and Lucy Martinez. Ruben learned the fundamentals of pottery making from his mother and now they have joined forces and combined their efforts to make some of the finest black on black pottery available today.

Over the last fifty years, Alice and Ruben have perfected the Tunyo Polychrome mate on polished black style pottery that the Martinez family from San Ildefonso had become famous for back in the early 1900’s. They make pottery the traditional way; they gather the clay from sacred grounds within the San Ildefonso Pueblo, clean the clay,hand coil, shape, and fire the traditional way, outdoors, with horse manure.

 Alice’s father, Richard Martinez was the adopted son of the famous Maria Martinez.

Awards:

-Eight Northern Pueblos Exhibit

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies 

Barbara Martinez is part of a large family of Santa Clara potters.

Her mother was the late well-respected potter Flora Martinez. Barbara's siblings are all potters: Frances Salazar, Glenda Naranjo and Sammy Naranjo.

Barbara's daughter, Vickie Martinez, is a fine potter and Vickie's children, though still in their teens, are already making excellent pottery.

Barbara works in the traditional Santa Clara style of deeply carved black forms in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Vickie Martinez “Koe-Sawe”, Buffalo Steps, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Pueblo of Santa Clara-Tewa in 1967. Vickie was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of her ancestors of working with clay from her Mother, Barbara Martinez. She has been making pottery since 1983, when she was 15 years old.

Vickie specializes in the traditional handmade black and red Santa Clara pottery. She gathers her own natural pigments (clay) from the hills within the Santa Clara Pueblo. Vickie hand coils, shapes, carves, fires and polishes her pottery using all traditional methods. Vickie was quoted as saying: “I find etching a very challenging and rewarding experience, which I am enjoying thoroughly.” Vickie signs her pottery as: Vickie Martinez, Santa Clara Pueblo.

Vickie is related to the following artists: Barbara Martinez (mother), Glenda Naranjo, Frances Salazar (aunts), Sammy Naranjo, Chris Martinez and Manuel Martinez (brothers).

Awards:

-Eighth Northern 2nd place

-New Mexico State Fair

Publications:

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies 

Lucy Leuppe McKelvey is a Native American Indain from the Navajo Reservation.  She is known as an innovator in the native american art world.

The whole philosophy of Navajo culture is one of beauty and harmony. That is what I am doing with my pots; this is what my girls are doing. We are creating Navajo beauty from Navajo materials. Everything you see on a pot has come from Mother Earth, from the clay to the paint - everything. The pots don’t look like traditional Navajo pots, but the uses for those are not needed as much today. There is always a need for beauty. Especially Navajo beauty.-- Lucy Leuppe McKelvey

Lucy was raised by her grandparents, her grandmother a Navajo weaver, her grandfather a Navajo medicine man, Lucy did not learn to make pottery until she was in college in 1973.  After graduating from college, Lucy taught elementary school in for a few years. She then took five years off to raise her three daughters, Cecilia, Celeste, and Celinda. Self-taught, she introduced clay to her daughters. They  eventually learned to contruct pottery. She would invite neighboring potters and learn by watching them as well as examining pottery shards she would find outside her grandmother’s house.  Lucy’s ideas are taken from  sandpaintings and other Anasazi designs on her pots. This is a break from the traditional pottery designs. Sandpaintings are sacred to the Navajo People. Depicting a sandpainting as a permanent drawing and then burning it is sacrilegious to her people. The Yeis depicted are believed to be far too powerful. A way around this is to leave the design unfinished or to change it in some way so that the Yei is able to escape from the piece.

My grandfather, who was a medicine man, told me that it was okay to paint these designs as long as I did not exactly reproduce a sandpainting figure. That is why, while I take some inspiration from a sandpainting, I always change it and add something different.-- Lucy Leuppe McKelvey

Lucy gathers her clays, minerals, and pigments near Low Mountain, Arizona.  She hand mixes her clay with temper to develop all paints with materials from Mother Earth.   Use of intricate sandpainting designs with graceful curves added to the vessels are the hallmarks of  her pottery. 

Lucy has been an exhibitor at the famed Indian Market since 1975 and has won numerous awards at various art shows around the country, including the Santa Fe Indian Market.  

Elizabeth Medina, “Sepia”, was born  in 1956 into the Jemez Pueblo. She married into the Zia Pueblo. She was inspired by her Mother-in-Law, Sofia Medina, to learn the art of working with clay. Elizabeth observed Sofia with much enthusiasm in hopes of achieving the same skills. It appears from what Elizabeth has accomplished, that she has achieved her goal.

Elizabeth specializes in the handmadetraditional Zia pottery with traditional symbols and birds. She digs up her own clay, cleans, mixes, coils, shapes, fires, and paints her pottery the traditional way, with natural colors. Elizabeth signs her pottery as: Elizabeth Medina, Zia. Elizabeth is related to the following artists: Marcellus Medina (husband), Lois Medina (sister-in-law), and Sofia Medina (mother-in-law).

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-Eighth Northern Arts and Crafts Show

-Colorado Indian Art Show

-Other awards too numerous to list

-Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Talking With The Clay

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni 

Marcellus Medina was born into the Zia Pueblo in 1954. He was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making by his ancestors, the support of many people, creative inspiration, and economic motivation.

              Marcellus is a painter from Zia Pueblo. He paints traditional and contemporary images in watercolors and acrylics. He is a self taught painter and has been painting since the age of 10. He has devoted the majority of his life to being an art student and currently is still a practicing artist. Marcellus signs his pottery as: Medina, year, and accents it with a zia bird symbol, Marcellus is related to the following artists: Elizabeth Medina (spouse), Sofia Medina (mother), and Lois Medina (sister).

Awards:

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st Place

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market several awards

-New Mexico State Fair Best of Show

-Southwest Indian Painting Convocation

-Others awards too numerous to list

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-American Indian Pottery

-Talking With The Clay

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

-Others too numerous to list

Displayed permanent collections:

-Albuquerque International Airport, Alb. NM

-Boston Museum of Fine Art, Boston MA

-School of American Research, Santa Fe NM  

Sofia Medina and Lois Medina are a mother and daughter team which with combined efforts produce some of the finest Zia Pueblo pottery around today. Sofia was born in 1932 and Lois was born in 1959. Sofia has been making pottery since 1963. Trinidad Medina, who was a prolific and one of Zia’s finest potter’s, taught her all the fundamentals of making traditional Zia pottery and encouraged her to continue the long lived family tradition of hand coiling pottery.

                  Sofia and Lois specialize in making hand coiled Zia pottery just like their ancestors before them. All the materials used on their pottery come from within the Zia Pueblo. The clay is gathered from the grounds within the pueblo. They clean, mix, hand coil, shape, paint, and fire the pottery the traditional way, outdoors. The colors are derived from natural plant life and minerals also found within the Zia Pueblo. They both contribute equally while constructing their pottery. Trinidad encouraged Sofia to teach each and every one of her children the art of hand coiling traditional Zia pottery, so they may be able to contribute to the legacy which is bestowed upon them as well. Sofia & Lois said, “Spiritually, making pottery eases your mind, and we sing and pray while making our pottery.” They sign their pottery as: Sofia Medina-Lois Medina, Zia.

They are related to Marcellus Medina and Herman Medina (sons/brothers).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Talking with the Clay

Awards:

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-New Mexico State Fair

-Eighth Northern Arts & Crafts Show

Collections:

-Albuquerque International Airport

-Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

West Mountain is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born in 1975 and is a member of the Lizard Clan. He is half Laguna Pueblo and half Cochiti Pueblo. West is extremely proud of his heritage and participates in the traditions and ceremonies of his people. He was inspired to learn the art of working with pottery from several family members and various friends. He comes from a family that reinforces the traditional ways of their ancestors. Art has always come naturally to West. When he was a young boy he drew many kachinas and fine line designs on paper. Eventually, he got the idea to put his work on pottery. This developed and improved his drawing skills and techniques. He has been crafting pottery since 1998.

West Mountain specializes in hand crafting Santa Clara pottery. He draws sgraffito designs of highly respected kachinas on his pottery. West uses his steady hand to etch his finely detailed warriors, maidens, and fine line designs of a time when life seemed so much more simple.Then, he accents his pottery with quality turquoise stones to add a unique flare to his art. West is in the early stages of establishing himself as an fine artisan, and he is very proud of this accomplishments to date. His favorite kachina to create is the Poli Kachina, other wise known as the Butterfly Kachina, because of the special dances they perform and their beauty. There is over 300 recognized Kachinas and they represent different spiritual beings that are believed to guide Native American People on the right path of life. He signs his pottery as: West Mountain, Laguna, N.M.

Awards:

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-2000 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-2001 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-2001 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-2001 New Mexico State Fair 4th Place

Burel Hughes Naha, “Long Hair Kachina”, member of the Spider Clan was born into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation in 1944. He was inspired to learn the art of traditional pottery making at the age of 7 from his famous Mother, the late Helen Naha.

              Burel specializes in the handmade traditional Hopi pottery, but he has created his own unique style. He enjoys painting spiders with intricate web designs all around his pottery. The earlier designs that he used were Helen’s until his daughter, Cynthia Naha brought home a computerized photo of a spider which she drew. Cynthia told him that they were drawing insects and spiders in class. He was hypnotized by the design and late one night he couldn’t get the spider out of his thoughts. He decided to experiment with the spider pattern on his pottery and this is where his idea was originated from. People refer to him as Spider-man. Burel received his BA at Brigham Young University. He was a teacher for many years and now has dedicated his life to his wonderful uniquely painted pottery. Burel credits his success to his mother for teaching him the traditional ways of their ancestors. Now he can also teach his children so that they may continue the Hopi traditions and won't get lost and forgotten. Burel signs his pottery as: Long Hair Kachina (symbol), followed by a feather design.

Burel comes from a long line of famous potters which includes: the famous Sylvia Naha, Rainell Naha (sisters), the famous Paqua Naha (grandmother), and the famous Joy “Frogwoman”.Navasie (aunt).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st and 2nd Place

-Gallup Ceremonial 1st and 2nd Place

Publications:

-Art of the Hopi

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

Burel has pottery displayed in many museum art collections 

Sylvia Naha Humphrey, member of the Spider Clan, was born in 1951 into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation. She is the grand daughter of the late “Paqua Naha”, who was among the most famous and prolific Hopi-Tewa potters to ever have lived. Paqua’s first name means “frog” in the Spanish language. She is known as “Frog Woman”. Sylvia is also the daughter of the late Helen Naha “Feather Woman”.

Sylvia specializes in hand coiled Hopi white slip pottery. She learned all the fundamentals of traditional pottery making from her mother, Helen “Feather Woman” Naha.

Sylvia gathers her clay and other materials from the Hopi lands including natural pigments used for color on her pottery. She cleans, mixes, shapes, sands, paints, and fires her pottery outdoors, the traditional way with sheep dung. Many of the designs Sylvia paints on her pottery are Helen’s but she will incorporate them with her own. Sylvia signs her pottery as: A feather symbol followed by a letter “S”. Burel Naha (brother), Joy “Frog Woman II”Navasie (aunt), Dee Setalla (cousin), Eunice “Fawn” Navasie, and Dawn Navasie (cousin) are among some of the famous potters that Sylvia is related to.

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

Valerie Namoki is a gifted Hopi-Tewa artist who is becoming well known for her sculpted pottery kachinas. Valerie learned the art of making pottery from her grandmother, Carol Namoki. She was also inspired by her father Virgil, a Hopi kachina carver, who taught her the art of carving. She blended the two mediums to create her own beautiful pottery kachinas.

Check for work by this artist in our Hopi Pottery section!

This husband and wife team is quickly rising to the top of their division.  Known for their development of the incised red ware (introduced by Elvira’s father, Tom Polacca), Marty and Elvira have nearly perfected the Kachina element captured in each of their unique pieces.  Both Marty and Elvira come from a long line of potters.  Elvira being the Great-Granddaughter of Nampeyo, and Marty is the son of Emma Naha.  Their heritage and involvement with daily Hopi culture has given them an advantage.  They have shown their pottery throughout the Southwest.  Marty and Elvira’s pieces can be seen in many publications and museums dealing with elaborate Indian art.

Check for work by this artist in our Hopi Pottery section!

Adelle Lalo-Nampeyo was born into the Hopi-Tewa Nation in 1959. She is one of the great granddaughters of the famous “Nampeyo”, known for reviving and expanding the beautiful ancient style of pottery called Sikyatki. She was inspired to learn the art of pottery making from her Mother, the late Elva Nampeyo. She has been making pottery since 1979.

Adelle specializes in the handmade traditional ancient Sikyatki polychrome pottery which her family is famous for. All of her materials are from Mother Earth. She hand coils all of her pottery the traditional way. She enjoys making seed pots most of all because they are easier to work with. Her favorite design is the fine line and eagle tail. She strongly believes that she needs to continue making pottery the traditional way because of her strong spiritual beliefs. Adelle is now teaching her children the art that her ancestors have taught her so that they can continue in her foot steps.

Adelle signs her pottery as: Adelle L. Nampeyo, followed by a corn symbol to proudly denote her clan origin.

Awards:

-Gallup Ceremonial

Publications:

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

Clara Nampeyo was born in 1961; she is the daughter of the well-known Hopi/Tewa potter Thomas Polacca, Granddaughter of Fannie Polacca and Great-Granddaughter of Nampeyo.  Carla learned their traditional way of making pottery, the golden hued bowls with fine line painting.    Besides emulating these two styles, Carla went on to develop another style with a rich, chocolate slip depicting animal and Kachina carvings, she also does pottery in traditional “Polychrome”.  Carla has won numerous awards for her pottery.

Check for work by this artist in our Hopi Pottery section!

Nyla “Nampeyo” Sahmie, member of the Corn Clan, was born in 1954 into the Hopi Reservation. She was taught the art of constructing Hopi pottery, using ancient traditional methods, passed down to her from her mother, Priscilla Namingha-Nampeyo. Nyla began experimenting with pottery at the age of 13. She has continued this long lived family tradition just like her ancestors have before her. Her goal is to become one of the finest potters ever just like the famed Nampeyo. Nyla is a fifth generation of Nampeyo potters currently working with clay.

Nyla specializes in hand coiled yellow-orange traditional pottery. She gathers her clay, grinds it down, cleans the clay, mixes, hand coils, sands, paints her designs, and fires the pottery, outdoors, with sheep dung. Her favorite patterns to paint are: migrations, double hummingbirds, and flowers. She recently has begun to hand coiling very large olla pots. Nyla stated, “Making pottery has come naturally to me and I am honored to be a member of one of the most famous Native American Family names”. She signs her pottery as: Nyla  Nampeyo, followed by a corn symbol to denote her Clan origin.

Nyla currently is working with children at local Elementary Schools and High Schools in her area, educating the youth about the Hopi heritage and culture. She does this so that the tradition of the Hopi ways of life are continued and not forgotten.

Awards:

-Eighth Northern Arts and Crafts Show

Publications:

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies 

Dusty Naranjo was born in 1968 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She is the daughter of Bernice Naranjo. Dusty learned how to hand coil traditional pottery when she was approximately twenty years old.  Dusty was inspired to learn the art of pottery making by observing her Mother, and her Brother, Forest Naranjo, both well know pottery artists from the Santa Clara Pueblo.

Dusty chose to continue hand coiling the sienna firing style, which is a color in-between that of the traditional Santa Clara black and red. The sienna style, or technique is the style the “Naranjo Family” is well known for making. This is a contemporary style started in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, however, this style is now considered a staple style from the Santa Clara Pueblo. She gathers her natural pigments from within the hills of the Santa Clara Pueblo and uses traditional methods while making her fine masterpieces. Dusty etches animals, geometric designs, and symbols on her pottery to add a bit of contemporary flare to her traditional pottery. She signs her pottery as: Dusty.

Publications:

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

-Santa Fe Indian Market

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Forrest Naranjo was born in 1963 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. He was economically motivated to learn the art of pottery making. He began making pottery back in 1986 at the age of 23. He also was inspired to hand coil pottery by his creativity.

Forrest specializes in the handmade Sienna style or technique, which the Naranjo family is known for today. The Sienna firing is a color in between that of the traditional black or red, which was started back in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It is now referred to as the Staple style from the Santa Clara Pueblo. Forrest mixes, hand coils, shapes, etches, and fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors. His etching will include animals, feathers, and many different creative designs which he imagines. He also shapes his clay into bear sculptures, which he is well known for and enjoys making. He signs his pottery as: Forrest. Forrest is related to Bernice Naranjo (mother) and Dusty Naranjo

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

-Gallup Indian Ceremonial

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies 

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Glenda Naranjo, “Cloth Stick Flower”, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1953 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. Glenda was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery from her late mother, Flora Naranjo. Flora taught Glenda all the fundamentals of working with clay and using ancient methods to construct her pottery. Glenda has been working with clay since the age of 10. The lucrative aspect of the business also played a key roll in her becoming a clay artist.

Glenda specializes in hand coiling traditional black on black and red Santa Clara pottery. She gathers her clay from the grounds within the Santa Clara Pueblo. Glenda soaks the clay, grinds it to a sandy grain, hand mixes, hand coils, hand shapes, hand carves, and fires her finished product the traditional way, outdoors, with horse dung. Her patterns include the Water Serpent and Feather diagrams. She hand coils a wide variety of sizes and shapes of traditional pottery. Glenda enjoys working with clay and feels that in doing so, she proudly adds to the art world and continues the long lived legacy of her people. She currently is also teaching her immediate family to construct the beautiful pottery that her Pueblo is famous for making. She signs her pottery as: Glenda Naranjo, SCP. Glenda is related to: Frances Salazar, Barbara Martinez, Vickie Martinez, and Sammy Naranjo.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 1st Place

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

-New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

-Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

Publications:

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies.

Kevin Naranjo, “Turquoise Mountain”, was born into the Santa Clara Pueblo in 1972. He was inspired to learn and continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery at the age of 10 back in 1982, by his family and his love for nature.

              Kevin specializes in the hand coiled black/sienna Santa Clara pottery. He crafts traditional designs with wildlife scenery's on the exterior of the pottery. The first piece he ever made was a dinosaur, and then he sparked an interest in molding animal figurines. Kevin gathers his own clay from the sacred grounds within Santa Clara Pueblo. He hand mixes, coils, shapes, crafts, and fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Kevin signs his pottery as: Kevin Naranjo, Santa Clara Pueblo.

Kevin is related to the following artists: Dolores Curran (aunt), Geri Naranjo (mother), and the late Ursulita Naranjo (grandmother).

Awards:

-1995 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st & 3rd

-1997 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st & 2nd

-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st place

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st & 2nd Place

-1999 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Publications:

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

-August 1996 Indian Trader Magazine

Check for work by this artist in our Santa Clara Pottery section!

Madeline E. Naranjo and Adrian Garcia are full blooded Native American Indians. Madeline was born in 1971 and Adrian was born in 1973. They are both members of the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. They were both taught the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery using the methods of their ancient ancestors. They were also influenced by many of their family members to continue a long lived family tradition. Julie Gutierrez also had a big impact on their decision to become artisans. Madeline & Adrian have been working together as a team since 1989.

Madeline & Adrian specialize in hand coiling traditional Santa Clara, but adding their unique contemporary flare. They gather their clay from within the grounds of the Santa Clara Pueblo. They clean, mix, hand coil, shape, etch, polish, and fire their pottery, outdoors with horse manure. The designs they chose to create are those of nature scenes, because of the respect and the love they both have for the planet and all that it has to offer.

They are related to the following artists: Effie Garcia (mother) and Madeline Naranjo (grandmother). They sign their pottery as: Adrian Garcia & Madeline E. Naranjo, SCP.

Awards:

-1992 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st place

-1994 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd place

-1995 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd place

-1996 Santa Fe Indian Market 3rd place

-1997 Santa Fe Indian Market Honorable Mention

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies 

Karen Naranjo-Samaniego is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Navajo Reservation in 1967. Karen began creating Santa Clara pottery at the age of 19. Karen attended Brigham Young University and decided to take a break from college for the summer and visit her father, Wilson Price, Jr., in Santa Fe, N.M. During her visit, she met Forrest Naranjo and fell madly in love with him and they eventually married. Bernice Suazo-Naranjo (ex mother-in-law) taught Karen & Forrest the fundamentals of working with clay. Continuing long lived traditions is extremely important to Karen. She stated “I practice my skills as a potter, because a part of myself goes into every piece of art which I create. Thus, I am adding to the long lived legacy of my ancestors.”

Karen gathers her clay from the Santa Clara Pueblo. She breaks the clumps of clay to a fine powder form and mixes clay with other natural pigments. Karen hand forms and hand polishes every piece she makes. She also fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Mother Earth provides her with all the ingredients to allow her to make her own art. Karen signs her pottery as: Karen Naranjo Samaniego.

Publications:

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies

-Collections of Southwestern Pottery

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

-Santa Fe Indian Market

-Pueblo Grand, Phoenix, AZ

-Haskel Indian Market, Lawrence, KS  

Thomas G. Natseway is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born on April 19, 1953 into the Laguna Pueblo. He was taught all the fundamentals of constructing handmade pottery using the ancient traditional hand coiling method by his relatives and his wife, Charmae from the Acoma Pueblo. He began his career as a journalist and while interviewing Charmae he fell in love and shortly after married her.

Thomas specializes in hand coiled and hand painted miniature pottery. he gathers all the raw clays and natural vegetation from within the Acoma and Laguna Pueblo. He breaks down the raw clumps into a fine powder from and hand mixes with water. Once the clay is mixed to a fine medium he begins rolling out the moist clay into snake like coils and begins building the desired forms. His pieces are so difficult to construct because a finger usually doesn’t fit inside the lip of the vessels. He hand paints each piece carefully and fires his pottery in a kiln. He signs his pottery as: Thomas Natseway. He is related to: Charmae Natseway (wife), and Peter & Betty Natseway (parents).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Santa Fean Magazine 1999

-American Indian Art Magazine 1992

-Indian Market Magazine 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996

-SWAIA Quarterly 1982

Awards:

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place

-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st & 2nd Place

-1996 Santa Fe Indian Market (3) 2nd Place

-1995 Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Class

-1993 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place

-1992 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd & (2) 3rd Place

-1991 Santa Fe Indian Market (2) 1st & (2) 2nd Place

-1989 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st & (2) 2nd Place

Charles Navasie is a full blooded Native American Indian, and he was born in  1965 into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation.  His a member of the Parrot Clan.  He began working with clay at the age of fifteen.  He was inspired by his grandmothers, the late, Pagua Naha, and the world renowned Joy Frogwoman Navasie, to continue the long lived family tradition of making pottery using ancient traditional methods. Frogwoman shared all the fundamentals of working with clay and encouraged Charles to continue the family tradition and add to the legacy of their ancestors.

Charles specializes in hand coiling and hand painting traditional seedjars, bowls, and vases.  He gathers his raw clay from within the hills of the Hopi Reservation. Next, he cleans the clay until it reaches a fine powder form.  Then, he mixes the powder with water.  Once the clay reaches a fine medium he begins the hand coiling process and begins the shaping of the vessel by using snake like coils.  When the shape of the vessel is determined he sets his product out to dry.  When his vessel is dried he will sand the piece by hand for a smooth finish.  Then he begins the hand painting process.  The colors used on his his pottery are all authentically hand mixed from natural vegetation which is also harvested from within the Hopi Reservation.  Once the vessel has been painted and set out to dry he will complete the process by giving the pottery a  traditional firing, the way of his ancestors, outdoors, using authentic sheep dung. Then, he adds a fine polish which he has mastered to perfection. He signs his  pottery as: Charles Navasie with a symbol of a frog to denote his family origin.

Publications:

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

Dawn Navasie, “Polaquimana” (Red Tail Hawk), member of the Water Clan, was born into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation in 1961. She was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making from her extremely famous Mother, the late Eunice “Fawn” Navasie. Fawn taught Dawn all the fundamentals of making traditional Hopi pottery at the age of 4. Dawn would assist her mother with her pottery and thus inspired her to learn. Dawn began perfecting her pottery making skills at the age of 17.

Dawn specializes in handmade traditional Hopi style pottery. She prefers making the larger ollas (larger pots) because they have more room to paint her favorite designs of mythical rainbirds and rain clouds. She also paints moths, weather symbols, and elements of the earth. Natural minerals and vegetables like wild bee plant, hematite, and red clay are used for coloration. Firing is done in the traditional manner using sheep dung as fuel. Dawn is a superb artist in the Hopi-Tewa tradition. She paints with a sure hand and has a design vision that recalls the beauty and quality of her mother’s work (original Fawn). Dawn signs her pottery as: Dawn Navasie, followed by a water symbol to denote her clan origin.

Dolly Joe “White Swann” Navasie (sister), Eunice “Fawn” Navasie” (mother),

Darrell Navasie, and Gregory Navasie (brothers) and Fawn Garcia Navasie, sister, formerly “Little Fawn” are among some of the many other artists that Dawn is related to.

Awards:

-Gallup Ceremonial 1st Place

-Hopi Guild 1st Place

-Museum of Northern Arizona 1st

place

Publications:

-1996 Arizona Highways magazine

-Art of the Hopi

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies 

Dolly Joe Navasie, “White Swann”, member of the water clan, was born in 1964 into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation. She is the daughter of the famous Eunice “Fawn” Navasie. White Swann was taught all the fundamentals of traditional pottery making at the age of 6, from her maternal Grandmother, Poli-Ini. The famous, late Eunice “Fawn” Navasie (mother), taught White Swann how to paint traditional designs at the age of 17.

White Swann specializes in the handmade traditional Hopi pottery. All of her pottery is made from Mother Earth.The pottery is coiled the traditional way and fired outdoors with sheep dung. She uses a yucca, in which she fashions into a paint brush, to paint her intricate designs. Iron oxide rock is used for the maroon coloration, whereas the yellow clay provides the orange finish. She uses a polishing stone to polish her pottery that was passed down to her from Poli-ini (grandmother). White Swann is a strong believer in continuing family traditions. She is proud of making pottery because it is the way of life that has been passed down to her from her ancestors. She currently is mentoring her children so that they can take part of a tradition in which she is proud to be a part of, and hope that they will continue this unique style of art which she holds dear to her heart. She signs her pottery as: White Swann, followed by a graceful swan symbol. 

White Swann was born into a gifted family of famous potters which includes: The late Eunice “Fawn” (mother), “Little Fawn” Navasie, Dawn Navasie  (sisters), Darrell Navasie, Greg Navasie (brothers), and The famous Joy “2nd Frogwoman” Navasie.

 Publications:

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Art of the Hopi

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

Awards:

-American Indian & Relic Show 1st

-Hopi Tu-tsootsvolla Sedona AZ 1st

-Pasadena Original American Indian

-Other too numerous to list

Joy (originally Yellow Flower)“Frogwoman” Navasie, member of the Kachina Clan,  was born in 1919 into the Hopi/Tewa Reservation. She is the daughter of the famous Paqua (original Frogwoman) Naha, who was credited for originating the white slip elegant styled Hopi pottery. Paqua’s trademark was the frog symbol and it was passed down to Joy in 1939. Joy’s frog symbol has long webbed feet, while Paqua’s had short toes. Joy has been using her trademark since the age of 20. Joy is one of the most prolific and finest Hopi potters of today. She learned all the traditional methods of pottery making from her mother. Joy’s career as a potter began in 1935.

Joy specializes in traditional styled white slip Hopi pottery. All of the steps used to make her pottery are taught the traditional way, from gathering clay, cleaning, molding, coiling the pottery, slipping, polishing, painting, and finally the outdoor firing with sheep dung. Joy coils many shapes of pottery like: wedding vases, jars, and bowls. Joy taught her family members all of the knowledge that she acquired over the years, so that they may continue the tradition which her mother, Paqua, started back in 1935. Joy signs her pottery with a frog symbol.

Joy is related to many famous artist among them are: Burel Naha, Stetson Setalla, (nephews), Sylvia Naha, Fawn Navasie (nieces), Marianne Harrison, Loretta Navasie (daughters), and Charles Navasie (grandson).

Publications:

-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery

-Art of the Hopi

-Southwest Pottery Anasazi to Zuni

-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies

-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition

Joy has pottery displayed in several museums as well as private collections.

Marianne Navasie is the daughter of  famed Joy Navasie, and the grand-daughter of world renowned Paqua Naha, the original frog woman.  Marianne was born in 1951, and has been making po