Namoki, Lawrence

Lawrence Namoki is an internationally recognized Hopi potter who lives near Polacca, Arizona. His art work is created using traditional Hopi methods and their designs are strongly influenced by Hopi mythology and culture.


Namoki, who grew up in the village of Walpi, Ariz., graduated from Phoenix Indian High School in Phoenix and served with the U.S. Army's Special Forces Division. Upon being discharged from the Army, he returned to Arizona and began carving Kachina dolls. By the mid 1980s, he switched his focus to pottery and made his debut as a professional potter in 1985 at the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show in New Mexico.


Namoki has received many honors for his work, including capturing the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show's "Governor's Award/Best of Show" eight times. His pottery is on display at the Smithsonian Institute and in numerous other museums, galleries and private collections around the world, including the Arizona State University and Oregon State University permanent collections, the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, N.M, and in the home of one of the members of the Royal Family of England.

 
Butterfly Maiden, KLN11-1
Butterfly Maiden, KLN11-1

This Butterfly Maiden Katsina is a very special and delicate piece. The movement shown is wonderful and the colors are a great combination. It stands 16 inches tall and the base measures 5 inches deep.

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Namoki Pot, POTLN11-2
Namoki Pot, POTLN11-2

"2013" Collection. This pot is made with a beautiful coloring. It shows a celestial scene with minimal detail to the landscape. It measures 4 1/2 inches by 3 inches.

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Namoki Pot, POTLN11-4
Namoki Pot, POTLN11-4

"2013" collection. This pot is one of four that the gallery has acquired. One side of the pot depicts a Mudhead and the other side has a different figure. It measures 2 3/4 inches by 2 1/4 inches.

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Namoki Pot, POTLN11-3
Namoki Pot, POTLN11-3

This mini pot is a part of Namoki's "2013" collection. It depicts dragonflies in a celestial setting. It measures 1 1/2 inches by 2 inches.

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"The Hopi Gifts" by Lawrence Namoki, POTLN5-5

This piece of carved Hopi pottery is hand coiled and formed by Lawrence Namoki. His meticulous attention to detail can be seen in every line. This pot's designs are raised with the background cut away in the Sgraffito style, which is the cutting away of different layers of clay to expose colored layers. This style makes for a very dramatic design, especially with the very finely detailed designs painted on this particular piece of artwork. This pot measures 4.5" in diameter and 6.5" tall. Among the many designs laid out and inscribed in intricate relief on this pot are images of a Crow Mother Kachina or Katsina, an owl, and Hands with gifts among others.

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"The Emergence" by Lawrence Namoki, POTLN5-1

This piece of carved Hopi pottery is hand coiled and formed by Lawrence Namoki. His meticulous attention to detail can be seen in every line. This pot's designs are raised with the background cut away in the Sgraffito style, which is the cutting away of different layers of clay to expose colored layers.


This style makes for a very dramatic design, especially with the very finely detailed designs painted on this particular piece of artwork. This pot measures 5.75" in diameter and 7.5" tall. Among the many designs laid out and inscribed in intricate relief on this pot are images of an ogre, a Kokopelli or native flute player, a Yei, pairs of hands, and a sunface among others.

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Long Hair, POTLN2-2
Long Hair, POTLN2-2

The image on this pot is of the Long Hair Katsina, hence the name. Lawrence Namoki has won many awards and ribbons for his pottery, including a 1st at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

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Indian Arts & Crafts Association Since 1974