Camille “Hisi” Nampeyo learned to make pottery from her mother, Dextra Quotskuyva.  She is a sister of noted painter Dan Namingha and a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, Annie Healing, and Rachel Nampeyo.  She is known for her use of traditional imagery and the delicate painting of her designs.  This tall jar is painted with a migration pattern. This is a classic pattern that Hisi paints with numerous delicate lines.  Note the quantity of thinly painted lines on this jar!  The black is painted with bee-weed (a plant) and the jar is traditionally fired.  It is signed on the bottom, “Hisi Nampeyo” and a corn plant for Corn Clan.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo said of  the migration pattern:

“This is the one design that was really stressed for us to use, the migration pattern. Nothing but lines, representing the migration of all the people to all the places, including down below and up above. All the x’s represent life from the bottom and top, telling you the universe is one. The thin lines, I just wanted to paint them real fast and real close to try and include everyone.”  Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo, Spoken Through Clay