Bertha Kinale

Bertha Kinale (born 1935) is a respected Hopi potter from the historic First Mesa village of Walpi, Arizona. Born into the Coyote Clan, she has spent her life deeply rooted in the cultural and artistic traditions of her people. Kinale learned the exacting, labor-intensive methods of traditional pottery-making from her elders, dedicating herself to the “old ways” of gathering local clay, hand-coiling, and utilizing natural mineral and vegetal paints.

Kinale is particularly recognized for her beautifully formed bowls, ladles, and saucers, all distinguished by meticulous craftsmanship and authentic Hopi-Tewa geometric designs. Referenced in Gregory Schaaf’s authoritative book, Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies, she has played an important, lifelong role in preserving and advancing traditional Hopi pottery techniques for future generations. Her authentic, hand-fired works are cherished by collectors of mid-to-late 20th-century Native American ceramics.