About the Artist

Although it is unclear when Laura Chapella was born, she was the sister of Tewa potter Grace Chapella (1874-1980). Their family lived at the Tewa Village of Hano at First Mesa on the Hopi reservation in northeastern Arizona. Her sister, Grace, is the great-grandmother of Mark Tahbo. Laura was active as a potter from 1930-1968, using thunderbirds, bees and cloud designs. Her work is in the collection of the Heard Museum and the Museum of Northern Arizona. A photo of one of her effigy jars with a chicken-head lid is found in Contemporary Hopi Pottery by Laura Graves Allen, published by the Museum of Northern Arizona. The potter, who signs her name Laura Tomosie is cited in Hopi-Tewa Pottery by Gregory Schaaf.