Native American Fine Art and Jewelry

Jemez Contemporary Bowl by Marcella Yepa

$395

Artist: Marcella Yepa
Style: Bowl
Pueblo: Jemez, NM
Period: Contempoary
Dimensions: 3″ H x 10.75″ W
Materials: Jemez Clay, Natural Slip, and Mineral/Vegetal Pigments
Item: # 2590

In stock

Description

Traditional handmade Native American Indian Pottery from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic.

A beautiful showcase of precision and cultural storytelling, this contemporary hand-coiled bowl by Marcella Yepa highlights the vibrant polychrome traditions of Jemez Pueblo. Crafted entirely by hand using ancient coiling methods and native clay gathered from the Jemez Valley, this wide, open-form vessel serves as a stunning canvas for Yepa’s meticulous interior brushwork. The bowl features a captivating array of five stylized turtles—a revered symbol of water, longevity, and Mother Earth in Puebloan culture.

Yepa’s exceptional skill is evident in the fine geometric detailing on each turtle’s shell, incorporating classic Pueblo motifs like lightning and feathers. Using hand-ground natural mineral and vegetal pigments, she applies striking matte tones of rust-red, sage-green, and deep black against a smooth, buff-colored slip. Fired traditionally, this piece is a wonderful representation of contemporary Jemez artistry, blending meaningful cultural symbolism with an elegant, display-ready form.

About The Artist

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.

More About This Pueblo

Pueblo

The art of Jemez Pottery making was revived in the 1800s after being lost during the Spanish conquest of the American Southwest. After being developed in the traditional style, the pottery has been enhanced over the generations to include several wonderful clay colors and traditional shapes. Jemez Pueblo Pottery has also been influenced by later generations by polishing and incising the pottery, fine line painting, inlaid stonework and storyteller figures.

More About This Pueblo