Mimbres Man

(Born 1967, Hopi/ Tewa)

From 1986 to 1988, he did missionary work in Leeds, England and then enrolled as an art student in Brigham Young University from which he graduated in 1993. He continuously studied pottery with his family on the reservation, and although living in Provo, he commuted to work with his aunt Dextra Quotskuyva, a prominent Hopi potter. From Dextra, Les learned great respect for the earth's material such as clay, and working from his home studio with his wife, Jocelyn, also a potter, they color their pots with plant juices. Some of his pottery has lively abstract designs which he incorporates with Hopi symbols. He says that being a potter also keeps him humble because "the pots have a life of their own" ("Southwest Art" 4/99).

And in 1998, he began painting on canvas--bold expressionist, architectural designs in which he also uses Indian symbolism." Taken from AskArt.com

NDN Art, a publication by artist/ art historian Charleen Touchette, illustrates both Namingha's pottery and his paintings. Currently Namingha's work is exhibited and sold via Charles King Galleries (Santa Fe and Scottsdale).