Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo (1924-2008) Biography

Own-ya-kwa-vi, "Display of Clouds"

Priscilla was born in 1924 she is the great grand-daughter of Nampeyo of Hano, her mother is Rachel Namingha Nampeyo. Priscilla learned the art of pottery making from her mother and her great-grandmother as a young girl of seven years.

Priscilla worked in the traditional way using Hopi clay and firing with dung using the revival Sityatki design used by her great-grandmother, Nampeyo. Her favorite designs were stars, dragonflies, feathers, clouds, eagle tails, migration patterns, birds, and parrots. Her work can resides in museums, galleries, and private collections around the world. Priscilla passed away in 2008.

Priscilla taught her children the Hopi-Tewa traditional way of making pottery. Her daughters Jean Shamie, Nyla Shamie, and Rachel Shamie have become award-winning potters and are much collected.