Marcella Yepa

Marcella Yepa (born 1964) is an esteemed contemporary potter from Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa), New Mexico. Learning the time-honored techniques of working with clay from her elders—including her aunt, the renowned potter Alvina Yepa—Marcella has developed a beautiful and distinct artistic voice. She is highly skilled in a variety of traditional styles, ranging from deep-carved redware and blackware to intricate matte polychrome painting.

Dedicated to the “old ways,” Yepa continues to hand-gather her clay from the Jemez reservation, utilizing natural slips and pigments to create her authentic, hand-coiled vessels without the use of a pottery wheel. Her work is celebrated by collectors of Native American ceramics for its technical precision, smooth finishes, and vibrant expressions of Puebloan heritage.