James Nampeyo

Hopi

James Garcia Nampeyo was born to Louis Garcia (of Laguna Pueblo) and Leah Polacca Garcia in 1958. That made him a great-grandson of Nampeyo of Hano and a nephew of Tom Polacca. He was encouraged by his grandmother, Fannie Nampeyo, to learn the art of traditional pottery making as he grew up and he began producing pottery for the marketplace in 1975.

Over the years he tried a few different styles and designs but he mostly preferred to stick with the styles and designs his great-grandmother made famous. For a while he was married to Fawn Navasie and after the divorce, he still collaborated with her sometimes in making larger pieces.

His favorite designs were eagletails, thunderbirds, feathers and clowns. James passed away in July, 2019.

Note: "Nampeyo" is the title of the woman who is head of the Hopi-Tewa Corn clan at First Mesa. There are roles and functions attached to the title that are not for a traditional Hopi man. Hopi and Hopi-Tewa society is matrilineal and genealogies are traced through the mothers.

Learning Path

James Nampeyo | James 2

Polychrome jar with bat wing design
4.5 in H by 5.5 in Dia

Polychrome jar with bird element design
4.5 in H by 10.25 in Dia

Red and black moth and geometric design on a yellowware jar

Yellowware jar with red and black moth and geometric design
3.75 in H by 7.75 in Dia

Red and black bird element design on a yellowware jar

Yellowware jar decorated with red and black bird element designs
3 in H by 5.25 in Dia

Bird element and geometric design on a polychrome yellow ware jar

Polychrome yellow ware jar decorated with a bird element and geometric design
3.5 in H by 6.25 in Dia

Migration pattern design on a polychrome yellow ware jar

Polychrome yellow ware jar decorated with a migration pattern design
4.25 in H by 5.5 in Dia

Mothman and geometric pattern of a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a mothman and geometric design
3.25 in H by 5.75 in Dia

Four-direction eagletail design on a polychrome jar with fire clouds

Polychrome Sikyatki-style jar with fire clouds and a four-direction eagletail design
5.5 in H by 14.75 in Dia

Moth and geometric design on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a moth and geometric design
6.25 in H by 10 in Dia

Red and black eagletail, Awatovi star and geometric design on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar with red and black eagletail, Awatovi star and geometric design
5.25 in H by 10 in Dia

4-panel bat wing and migration pattern on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a 4-panel bat wing and migration pattern design
4.75 in H by 6 in Dia

4-direction eagletail and geometric design on a polychrome jar

Polychrome Sikyatki-style jar with fire clouds and a four-direction eagletail design
2.75 in H by 5.5 in Dia

Bat wing, bird element, geometric design and fire clouds on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a bird element, bat wing and geometric design plus fire clouds
6 in H by 10.25 in Dia

Moth, geometric design and fire clouds on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar with red and black moth and geometric design with fire clouds
5.25 in H by 9.5 in Dia

4-panel katsina and geometric design with fire clouds on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a 4-panel katsina and geometric design and fire clouds
6 in H by 17.25 in Dia

4-direction eagletail, bird element and geometric design on a polychrome jar with fire clouds

Polychrome Sikyatki-style jar with fire clouds and a four-direction eagletail, bird element and geometric design
6.25 in H by 10.25 in Dia

James Nampeyo | James 2

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James Nampeyo

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