Namingha, Les – “Fancy Colors” Jar

7"w x 5.25"h

$ 3,600.00

This is a very intricately painted jar by Les Namingha.  He is one of those potters who continues to defy expectations in his innovative clay art.  He pulls from his artistic background as well as his Zuni and Hopi heritage.  His most recent work has pulled from Hopi imagery yet combined it in a manner which is modern in appearance.  Les says of this piece:

“The concept of layering is inherent in our mortal journey. As time moves forward, our memories become layered. Some memories remain vibrant, others faint or hazy. Yet others, obscure or even hidden. Likewise, our experiences, words, works, emotions, prayers and songs build up in layers creating our existence. In turn, our societal interactions become exercises in layering. We see this in evidence with street art or graffiti writing where layers of thought and a desire to express a “proof of existence” create tapestries of color and marks. Blending, covering, harmonizing, dissonance, disappearing. This concept of layering is the idea behind Urban Polychrome and other works in the Urban Series.”

On the surface of the jar there are numerous layers of design.  Pointilism, geometric shapes, bold forms and a variety of colors.  Each is layered one on top of another.  While it is hard to see in the photos, the bowl has some wonderful texture as well!  The final layer are the Hopi birds, painted in various styles across the surface.  One is red with dots and connecting lines, as if describing a constellation.  Another a bright yellow with small Hopi-Tewa designs painted onto the surface.  Suffice it to say, the more you look, the more you see!  It is signed on the bottom.