Nampeyo, Neva

Hopi-Tewa potter Neva (Polacca Choyou) Nampeyo was born in 1947, the daughter of Elva Tewaguna Nampeyo and granddaughter of Fannie Nampeyo. Among her siblings were Elton Tewaguna, Miriam Tewaguna Nampeyo and Adelle Lalo Nampeyo. They all learned how to make pottery as they were growing up, working with their mother and grandmother.

Neva was an active potter after about 1965, making mostly black-and-red-on-yellow seed pots and miniatures. She was never prolific, making only a few pieces per year. Her favorite design to paint was the migration pattern she learned from her grandmother.