Stephaine Tafoya (Santa Clara) is a great-granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya. Her deeply carved and highly stone polished pottery has an innovative use of designs. This jar, entitled, “Perennial”, has 24 carved tulips and 32 carved leaves. It was fired a deep red coloration. Check out this and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Rainy Naha (1949-2026), Hopi-Tewa, was known for her intricately painted pottery. The tumbling parrots and solstice designs were her unique creations. While she won numerous awards, it was her kindness, laugh, and creativity that brought her so many fans. After working with her for 30 years, she will be greatly missed, but she leaves behind an amazing legacy and family. She is the end of an era.
Camille “Hisi” Nampeyo learned to make pottery from her mother, Dextra Quotskuyva. Her pieces are traditional designs with her delicately painted lines. Each piece is coil-built from native clay and traditionally fired to create the blushes on the surface. The designs, from eagle tail to the spider, are all inspired by Nampeyo of Hano. Check out these and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso), and her son, Popovi Da (San Ildefonso), we able to achieve a silvery gunmetal coloration in the firing of their pottery. This plate is a classic design with a silvery firing. Russell Sanchez is one of the few potters today that can achieve a gunmetal coloration in the firing as in this recent bear lidded box. Check out these and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Jacob Koopee (1970-2011), Hopi-Tewa, was known for his tightly painted designs and use of various colors of clay slips. This open bowl combines a butterfly with a swirling Sikyatki inspired bird. Check out this and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Joseph Lonewlf (1932-2014), Santa Clara, was known for his “pottery jewels” that he began making in 1970. This seedpot is from 2001 and has a realistic grizzly bear etched into the clay. The dimensions and detail are amazing for the size of the piece. Check out this and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleires.com
Marcia Molnar’s new oil painting, “Under the Superstitions” captures the Arizona landscape under a rising full moon. Check out this and other exceptional regional art in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Ida Sahmie (1960-2026), Dine, was known for the creative cultural imagery on her pottery. Her Night Chant and Day Chant pieces are among her most recognizable works. After so many years of working with her, we are sad to hear of her passing. Her work remains a testament to her creativity and skill as a Native potter. Kinggalleries.com
Paqua Naha (1890-1955), Hopi-Tewa, introduced white-ware pottery to Hopi around 1951-55. This 18” tall jar combines the white clay with her swirling birds and geometric designs. Paqua (which means frog), signed her pieces with a frog. Her daughter, Joy Navasie, continued in this style, as did Helen Naha (her daughter-in-law). Check out this and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Preston Duwyenie (Hopi) carves into the clay to create his “shifting sand” style pottery. This plate is 16 inches across and has 34 narrow rows of shifting sand. They are all carved into the clay before firing and the back is polished. There are six silver insets in the plate, each cast against cuttlefish bone. While the plate is inspired by nature, it also has a modernist appearance. Check out this and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Teresita Naranjo (1919-1999), Santa Clara, was known for her deeply carved pottery. This melon jar was purchased from her in 1974. There are twelve melon ribs and the jar was fired a deep red coloration. Check out this and other exceptional art in clay in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
Elizabeth “Polingaysi” White (1892-1990), Hopi, was the aunt of Al Qoyawayma and taught him to make pottery. She is famous for her pottery, but also for writings, including, “Sun Girl”, and “No Turning Back” about her experiences in Indian boarding school. She was named an Arizona Living Treasure (1978) for her teaching. It is not often we see one of her classic jars with raised-relief corn, but they continue to tell her important personal and cultural story in clay. Check out this and other exceptional Native art in our galleries or online. Kinggalleries.com
