Shupla, Jeanne

Jeanne Shupla was the daughter of Helen Shupla of Santa Clara Pueblo and Kenneth Shupla, a Hopi man. She grew up at Santa Clara, learning how to make her mother’s trademark style of pottery as she matured. She also spent considerable time at Hopi, seeing how they made pottery, too.

She married Alton Komalestewa of Hopi and he moved to her home at Santa Clara. There he learned how to make pottery from both Jeanne and Helen. While he and Jeanne were often working side-by-side, they hardly ever collaborated on a piece.

Helen Shupla passed on in 1985, Jeanne followed her in 1989. Alton is still making pottery. He taught his and Jeanne’s son, Matthew Komalestewa, how to make pottery Helen’s way, too.