Born in June 1951 in Fort Defiance, AZ, Karen Kahe Charley was raised in the Hopi village of Sichomovi, where she learned the art of hand-coiled pottery from her mother, Marcella Kahe. Karen received her education at the Polacca Day School and later at the Phoenix Indian School. After getting married and having three children, she began dedicating herself to making pottery around 1980, passing down her skills to others, including Emma Naha and her aunt, Ramona Ami.
Karen specializes in creating a variety of pottery pieces, including yellowware canteens, seed pots, jars, tiles, bowls, stew bowls, and wedding vases. The pieces are adorned with intricate red and black designs inspired by ancient potsherds found in the villages of Sikyátki, Awatovi, and Payupki.
Since 1990, Karen has showcased her pottery at various events such as the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Museum of Northern Arizona's Hopi Show, and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market. She has consistently received accolades, including multiple ribbons for Best of Show, Best of Division, and Best Traditional Pottery.
4 1/2" Tall, 8 3/4" Wide
