Fields, Anita – “Wrapped in Thought” Clay Bundle with Distorted Writing
$ 1,800.00
Anita Fields is one of the great intellectual and creative forces in contemporary Native art. In 2025, she received the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Award, and in 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts Award. This piece is made from clay and is entitled “Wrapped in Thought“. The clay’s surface is textured and then written on with her “distorted script”. You might notice some black soot coming out from the ends of the piece. Anita says this is because before she fired the piece, she put in sheets of prayers and intentions that became consumed in the firing! This piece, from the shape to the script, is one of her important additions to her art. She said of this piece:
This is a personal and powerful piece. The clay work is meant to look like a cloth bundle women would use to hold cherished items. It wanted it to feel almost real, as if the clay was cloth. The entire surface is written in the distorted script, a bundle that contains our most sacred items, memories, and thoughts. The distorted writing is about the distortion of our history. How it’s always told from one side and distorted. It’s about us telling our own stories. What I do with the clay. This bundle is powerful, it holds our stories, told from our own perspective and culture”.
The piece is signed “Anita Fields” on the back.
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This clay purse by Anita Fields is one of her most iconic forms. It is made from clay and there are 4 pieces that sit inside the purse. Anita says of her purses:
Fields goes on to explain, “Constructed, pressed, and arranged clay forms serve as metaphors for personal and cultural ideology. On small bits of torn clay, I create textures and patterns by impressing personal objects that are meaningful and important to me, the fragments of clay are then collaged onto earthen shapes. The objects used for impressions are varied and can be as simple as twigs, stones, shells, or materials found during a walk or travel to a new landscape. They can be a favorite pair of earrings, a piece of textured cloth, ribbon-work patterns from our traditional clothing, or imprints from a beaded purse.
The purses are both about women and cultural identity. She titled this piece “Cloud Purse,” with sun, clouds, and star designs on the outside. Inside is a cloth bundle made by Anita, on which the pieces sit. There is a small clay coin purse. There is also a small “bundle,” which is the memory bundle in which the owner of the purse keeps her memories. She has a “cloud” with a center gold luster sun. Finally, there is a hair comb. There is a wonderful combination of items and a beautiful context of stories within the clay.
“I have a choice…There is a time for each of us to step up and be apart of the culture.” Anita recognizes there is a powerful connection that is made for her through cultural teachings. [Her] hand formed ceramic works led to references found in the Osage genesis narratives.” Anita Fields, Fluent Generations
The piece is from 2021 and Anita said she had made it before COVID and it has just been sitting in her studio since then! I was pleased that she would send it along and make it available for the first time through the gallery. It is signed, “Anita Fields”.
It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair, signed, “Anita Fields” Definitely iconic and something she rarely makes anymore!
Distorted writing about distortion of our history. How it’s always told from one side and distorted. It’s about us telling our own stories. What I do with the clay. Opportunity to tell things like I see them. The figures on the back, are the creation stores. Our creation story tells that we come from the stars. This is our floatation down to earth. The dress represents the female.
“Anita was influenced by traditional Osage ribbon work, clothing, and blankets. She also studied the objects and ceremonial dress of other tribes. The personal and emotional elements in these textile designs led Anita to use them symbolically in clay, translating the personality of these vestments into her work. About one of her recent series, Native American Dresses, which are coil-and slab-built installations, Anita says: “The dresses convey my attitudes toward the strength of women and how native peoples show remarkable resourcefulness and adaptability toward their environment. The clothing Indian women created shows great pride, dignity, and hope in a culture facing insurmountable odds.”
Mocassions.
Corn Woman. She has more traditional clothing. The hands are worn for ceremony and it’s an ancient design. It’s a photo transfer on linen. Corn for us and important for women. It’s asking for a nice harvest and a good home for my children. She is wearing Osage mocassions.
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Fields, Anita (b. 1951)
Anita Fields
Anita Fields is a fascinating potter who works with non-traditional clay to create abstracted images of traditional clothing and artifacts along with imagery intended to honor all women, particularly those of Indian descent. Anita was influenced by traditional Osage ribbon work, clothing, and blankets. She also studied the objects and ceremonial dress of other tribes. The personal and emotional elements in these textile designs led Anita to use them symbolically in clay, translating the personality of these vestments into her work. About one of her recent series, Native American Dresses, which are coil-and slab-built installations, Anita says: "The dresses convey my attitudes toward the strength of women and how native peoples show remarkable resourcefulness and adaptability toward their environment. The clothing Indian women created shows great pride, dignity, and hope in a culture facing insurmountable odds." Over the years Anita has spent a good part of her life traveling and collecting seemingly insignificant items. From these items, these memories, she creates original stamps. Anita has won numerous awards for her pottery and her work can be found in the permanent collection of museums such as The Heard Museum, the Denver Art Museum and others. She was featured in the book, “Pottery by American Indian Women”. Most recently she won “Best of Pottery” at the 2012 Heard Indian Market.Click Here to See New Works by Anita Fields!