Artist Bio:
Robert Patricio was born into
the Acoma Pueblo on June 10, 1976. He was given the Indian name
of “Bear."
He learned the traditional
methods of hand coiling pottery when he was eight years old by
observing his friends and relatives work on their pottery while
living in the Acoma Pueblo.
His family members taught
him the long lived traditional methods of constructing beautiful
clay art using the ancient methods of his ancestors.
He specializes in traditional
hand coiled and hand painted pottery. He gathers his clays, slips,
and natural vegetation to begin constructing his masterpieces.
Robert cleans his own clay for impurities, hand mixes with water
and begins constructing pottery vessels from snake like coils.
Robert sets his vessels out
to dry and once dried he sands his pottery for a smooth finish
so that he can begin hand painting his designs. While his pottery
is waiting to dry he boils all the natural vegetation together
and creates his natural colors from natural plants such as spinach
plant and various flowers.
The designs on his pottery
are re-created from old ancient pottery sherds found within the
Acoma Pueblo that his ancestors once painted hundreds of years
ago.
His designs include geometric,
fertility, tularosa swirls, and kiva step patterns. When the
painting is complete he finishes his masterpieces by firing his
pottery outdoors, the traditional way that he was taught.
He signs his pottery as: R.
Patricio, Acoma, NM.
