Darlene Nampeyo

Ceramicist
Native American, b. 1956

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Darlene Nampeyo is a member of the Corn Clan and the great-great granddaughter of the seminal Hopi-Tewa potter Nampeyo of Hano, the renowned revivalist of Hopi-Tewa ceramics. Darlene Nampeyo’s Jar continues the long-established tradition of her family of Hopi-Tewa potters. Jar is a black-and-red on yellow vase with a simple geometric design contains far more negative space than is typical of her family members. Darlene draws inspiration for her pottery from landscapes, songs, dances, and prayers—seeing her artistic process as a crucial aspect of keeping traditional Hopi culture alive. Like her family, Darlene works with the Rocky Mountain Beeweed plant (Cleome Serrulata) and ground red hematite mineral to achieve the colors of her vessels.