Nampeyo, Darlene

Hopi-Tewa potter Darlene James Nampeyo was born at Keams Canyon, Arizona in December, 1956. She’s the great-great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano, through Annie Healing, Rachel Namingha Nampeyo and Ruth James Nampeyo.

Darlene graduated from Winslow High School, went to Northland Pioneer College and then earned her Associates Degree in Fine Art at the Institute of American Indian Arts in 1979. All that formal education and Darlene says she learned the most from her aunt Dextra Quotskuyva, grandmother Rachel and aunt Priscilla Namingha.

Darlene has made jars, bowls, plates, vases and figures but she prefers to make tiles. Tiles are among the hardest pieces to make as they warp and crack easily during drying and firing. She also prefers to use the designs she learned from her teachers: bird elements, cornstalks and katsinam.

Darlene started earning ribbons in the mid-1980s at the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Colorado Indian Market and the Scottsdale Native American Indian Council Cultural Foundation Show. She also had a remarkable run of seven consecutive ribbons at the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market.

Some exhibits that featured works by Darlene

  • Elegance from Earth: Hopi Pottery. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. March 24, 2012 – April 6, 2014
  • 2006 Graduation Exhibition: Codified Subversion: Systematic Re-Evolution. Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. Primitive Edge Gallery. Santa Fe, New Mexico. April 28, 2006-May 12, 2006

Some Awards earned by Darlene

  • 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms except jars, Category 1306 – Other vases: Third Place
  • 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms except jars, Category 1313 – Other figures (sets of 2 or more pieces): Third Place
  • 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1303 – Other bowl forms (up to 9″ in diameter): Third Place
  • 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division E – Traditional pottery, Jars, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, jars, Category 1202 – Jars, Hopi (over 6″ tall): Second Place
  • 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1414 – Miscellaneous: Third Place
  • 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1404 – Other bowl forms (over 8 inches in diameter): Second Place
  • 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, Jars, Category 1201 – Jars, Hopi: First Place
  • 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1212 – Plates: Second Place
  • 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1218 – Miscellaneous: Second Place
  • 1988 Santa Fe Indian Market, Large Pottery Award for Best Traditional Pottery Bowl or Jar 15″ or more in height or diameter
    1988 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division F – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, jars, Category 1201 – Jars, Hopi: First Place
  • 1988 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1207 – Other bowl forms: Second Place
  • 1988 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Traditional pottery, painted designs on matte or semi-matte surface, all forms but jars, Category 1215 – Miscellaneous: Third Place
  • 1987 Scottsdale All Indian Days Fine Arts & Crafts Show: Fannie Nampeyo Memorial Award: Class VII, Division A, Large Pot, Eagle Design. Scottsdale, Arizona
  • 1987 Scottsdale All Indian Days Fine Arts & Crafts Show, Classification VII – Pottery, Division A – Traditionally made and fired: First Place. Scottsdale, Arizona
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