James Nampeyo (Garcia)

James Garcia Nampeyo was born in 1958 and is a fourth generation pottery maker.  He is the great-grandson of Nampeyo, the son of Leah Garcia Nampeyo, and he learned his craft from his grandmother Fannie Nampeyo.  James also married a potter, Fawn, who’s also known as “Little Fawn.”  He’s been a full-time artist since 1983 and currently lives in Tuscon, Arizona.

James is proud to carry on his grandmother’s Nampeyo designs without changing or adding to them.  He makes his pottery according to the old traditions passed down to him: all of his materials are natural and found on the Hopi Mesas, his pottery is traditionally coiled and fired outside, and he paints the pottery using a yucca brush.