Velarde, Sheldon Nunez

Sheldon Nunez Velarde is a Jicarilla Apache potter. He specializes in making micaceous clay pottery. He showed an interest in clay when he was young and eventually trained under Felipe Ortega and Lydia Pesata, two well-known Jicarilla Apache potters.

Sheldon has earned national recognition for his work. He leads workshops and does pottery making demonstrations throughout the Southwest. He is also an accomplished bead-worker and basket-maker.

Some Awards Sheldon has Earned

• 2019 Santa Fe Indian Market: Classification II – Pottery, Division A – Traditional Unpainted Pottery, Category 502 – Micaceous ware in the style of Taos, Nambe, Picuris, any form: Second Place
• 2011 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division B – Traditional, native clay, hand built, unpainted including ribbed: Honorable Mention
• 2011 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional, native clay, hand built, figurative: First Place