Concho, Carolyn

Born into Acoma Pueblo in 1961, Carolyn Lewis Concho is the daughter of Katherine and Edward Lewis. She’s a member of the Acoma Yellow Corn Clan.

After growing up surrounded by some of Acoma’s finest potters, she became known as one of the “Five Lewis Sisters of Acoma”: Rebecca Lucario, Marilyn Ray, Judy Lewis, Carolyn Concho and Diane Lewis. Actively producing pottery since 1984, Carolyn credits her older sisters with helping her make the decision to become a pottery artist.

As she uses only natural materials to create her pottery, Carolyn gathers her clay, minerals, and plants for pigments on the lands of Acoma Pueblo. She soaks the clay, cleans, mixes, hand coils, sands, paints her designs, and then finishes the process by kiln firing her pottery.

Carolyn’s creations always start with animals that are fashioned after ancient Mimbres designs. Many believe that some of the prehistoric Mimbres people migrated to the area of Acoma Pueblo.

Carolyn’s trademark is an appliqué element on her seed pots and plates, such as an ear or head of a rabbit or lizard that pops out of the surface in three dimensions, rendering a realistic effect and adding a bit of whimsy. She decides the placement of the creatures and surrounds the figures with fine black-line designs. Carolyn uses a camel hair brush since she’s found that yucca brushes don’t glide smoothly enough for her purposes.

Carolyn has earned numerous awards at the Heard Museum Indian Art Fair, Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Show, New Mexico State Fair, Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, and Santa Fe Indian Market. Carolyn signs her pottery “Carolyn Concho, Acoma”.

Carolyn has shared the meanings of some of her designs with us:

Butterfly = Beauty, Dragonfly = Messenger, Turtle = Longevity, Hummingbird = Prosperity, Bird = Cloud Swallower, Lady Bug = Good Luck, Fish = Faith, Rabbit = Abundance, Lizard = Curiosity, Kokopeli = Fertility

Some Exhibits that featured works by Carolyn

• Beyond Tradition. Santa Fe East. Santa Fe, NM. August 17-20, 1989
• Sisters. Case Trading Post, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. Santa Fe, NM. 1987

Some Awards earned by Carolyn

• 2012 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division A – Traditional, native clay, hand built, painted: Honorable Mention
• 2008 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, any form or design, using traditional materials with or without added decorative clay elements, all firing techniques, Category 1407 – Figures, sets of two or more separate pieces: First Place
• 2008 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, any form or design, using traditional materials with or without added decorative clay elements, all firing techniques, Category 1411 – Sgraffito, any other colors: First Place
• 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms except jars, Category 1304 – Canteens: First Place
• 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, any form or design, using traditional materials and non-traditional techniques, decorative elements, Category 1507 – Miscellaneous: Third Place
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, Category 1301 – Seed bowls up to 7″ diameter: Third Place
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials and techniques, Category 1409 – Miscellaneous up to 6″: Second Place
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, Category 1314 – Miscellaneous: Second Place
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1409 – Miscellaneous, up to 6″ including items with figure or designs in relief: Second Place
• 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, Category 1302 – Seed bowls: Third Place
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, Category 1301 – Seed bowls: Third Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Pottery miniatures, Category 1604 – Traditional forms: First Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, Category 1403 – Other bowl forms: Second Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, Category 1401 – Seed bowls: Second Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1505 – Bowls: First Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division K – Pottery miniatures, 3″ or less in height or diameter, Category 1704 – Traditional forms, seed bowls: Second Place
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs, Category 1401 – Seed bowls up to 7″ diameter: Third Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division I – Pottery Miniatures, 3″ or less in height or diameter, Category 1704 – Traditional other bowls: Second Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division I – Pottery Miniatures, 3″ or less in height or diameter, Category 1703 – Traditional seed bowls: Third Place
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division II – Non-traditional, Category 1304 – Bowls: First Place
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division II – Non-traditional, Category 1304 – Bowls: Second Place
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Pottery miniatures, 3″ or less, Category 1402 – Traditional forms, melon and seed bowls: Second Place
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery painted, Category 1205 – Seed bowls: Second Place