Jody Folwell

Santa Clara Pueblo

Photo of Jody Folwell
Jody Folwell

Jody Folwell was born into Santa Clara Pueblo in 1942 and learned her pottery making skills from her mother, Rose Naranjo.

Jody is known for her "innovative, off-round, uneven-lipped, asymmetrical polished pots." She is also known for her use of social commentary and satire in her pots. In 1984, she and sculptor Bob Haozous collaborated to create a pot that received the Best of Show award at Santa Fe Indian Market. Some of her pots are in the permanent collection of the National Museum of the American Indian.

In 2009-2010 the Heard Museum featured works by Jody Folwell and her daughters, Susan Folwell and Polly Rose Folwell, in their "Mothers & Daughters: Stories in Clay" exhibit.

Of her work, Jody Folwell has said, "I think of each piece as an artwork that has something to say on its own, a statement about life. I think of myself as being a contemporary potter and a traditionalist at the same time. Combining the two is very emotional and exciting to me."


Burnished and matte surface with fire clouds on a jar
Jar with burnished and matte surface with fire clouds
12 in H by 10 in Dia
Sgraffito geometric design on a black jar with sienna body
Black jar with sienna body and sgraffito geometric design
3 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Fire clouds on a polished red jar
Polished red jar with fire clouds
10 in H by 13 in Dia
Fire clouds on a burnished and matte surface brown jar
Burnished and matte surface brown jar with fire clouds
8 in H by 9.5 in Dia
Sgraffito geometric design on a brown jar with a black rim and an organic opening
Brown jar with black rim and organic opening plus a sgraffito geometric design
4.5 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Black rim and fire clouds on a brown jar
Brown jar decorated with a black rim and fire clouds
4.5 in H by 7.5 in Dia
Sgraffito and painted birds, spirit birds and geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar decorated with sgraffito and painted birds, spirit birds and geometric design
7.75 in H by 8.25 in Dia
Fish design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar decorated with a fish design
7.5 in H by 10.5 in Dia
Brown jar with a carved, formed and sgraffito frog design
A sculpted frog applique with a sgraffito frog design on a brown jar
9.5 in Dia by 7 in H
Fire clouds on a matte and polished brown jar
A matte and polished brown jar with fire clouds
10.75 in Dia by 9.25 in H
Photo of Jody Folwell courtesy of AncientNations

Santa Clara Pueblo Potters