Ami, Loren

Loren Ami was born in March 1968 in Winslow, AZ, but most of his years growing up were spent in Santa Fe, NM, where his mother worked for the Indian Health Service. He was never exposed to Clay Mother until he took a class in ceramics at Santa Fe High School. His aptitude for making pottery was almost immediately apparent.

For his final year in high school, Loren and his mother moved back to Hopi. He was reunited with his grandmothers, Eleanor Ami and Carol Namoki, both excellent potters. Then he met Camille Quotskuyva and fell in love.

He was helping Camille with her pottery when her mother, Dextra Quotskuyva, saw his work and, taking him under her wing, encouraged him to do his own work. In the end, it was Dextra who taught him the most.

As Camille’s companion, Loren’s pottery was seen by everyone who came to Hopi to buy pottery from her (and she had a steady stream of customers coming). His canteens with their crisp Sikyátki-Revival designs were very popular. In 1999 Loren went to the Santa Fe Indian Market and earned a First Place ribbon for one. In 2000 he entered a painted jar in the juried competition at Santa Fe and earned a Second Place ribbon.

Loren passed away in 2020.