Born to a Zuni mother and Hopi/Tewa father, Les Namingha grew up in an art-loving environment and began drawing at an early age. He has the good fortune to be the nephew of the renowned Hopi potter Dextra Quotskuyva, who is the great granddaughter of Nampeyo. (A pot created by this iconic artist is highly prized by any 20th century art collector.) Obeying the dictates of his artist genes, Namingha began studying with his aunt in the summer of 1989. "She taught me everything," he says. "Helped me through the whole process; from molding to sanding, from polishing to painting". Following his apprenticeship with Quotskuyva, the young artist went to Brigham Young University where he earned a BA in design.
Distinguished by delicate wall, fine finishes and elegant designs, Namingha's pottery creations reflect the influence of Quotskuyva. "I view my work as a combination of the traditional and the contemporary; i.e., the shape of the vessel is traditional while the designs are abstract," he says. "Sometimes I treat the surface of the pot as if it were a canvas".
Intrigued by new artistic horizons, Namingha has been increasingly drawn to the canvas. (Danas cousin is the famous Dan Namingha, who divides his time between painting and sculpture.) Experimenting with oil and acrylic on paper and canvas, the artist explores abstract expressionism with a vibrant and extensive color palette.
"I'll always be involved with pottery," points out Namingha, stressing the complexities of the medium. "This art form keeps a person humble. My aunt always told me that pots have a mind of their own". |
