Carla Nampeyo is the great-grand
daughter of Nampeyo. She is the daughter of Tom Polacca, and
the younger sister of Gary Polacca. She is married to Ral Claw,
a Navajo from Tuba City. They and their family live on the western
most edge of the Hopi reservation.
She continues to carry on
the legacy of her father, grandmother, and great-grandmother
by honoring the great pottery tradition of the Hopi. She has
shifted over the years from a traditional approach to a more
contemporary approach, much like that of her late-father, Tom
Polacca. Her work is very vivid and always tells a story.
Here she has depicted the
"Eagle Boy" that Thomas was famous for popularizing
on his pottery surfaces in the early 80s. This design tells the
story of a young boy who one day transformed into an eagle -
and the Hopi believe that he is still among them.
Carla is a prolific potter
and her work can be found all over the country and across the
globe. She follows in her brothers' footsteps and continues to
be innovative and hard-working. She occassionally can be found
at shows - although most of her work is sold directly to dealers
and other collectors.
We're delighted to have this
fantastic piece of contemporary Hopi pottery by one of the legendary
"Polacca" pottery makers! Don't miss this chance to
add Carla to your Nampeyo pottery "family tree."
