Ellsworth Polacca Nampeyo was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo and a grandson of Nampeyo of Hano. He was a brother of Elva Nampeyo, Leah Nampeyo, Tonita Nampeyo, Harold Polacca, Thomas Polacca, and Iris Nampeyo. He began making pottery in the late 1970s and continued through the 1980s. His pieces were mostly polished redware with carved designs.