This is a tightly painted long-neck jar by Robert Patricio.  He is known for his classic forms and use of both traditional and pre-historic imagery.  This jar is made from native clay, and it is coil-built and thin-walled. The design is a new one for him, inspired by the classic “lightning” design seen on the pottery from Chaco Canyon.  This jar has a more colorful version of that design with black, red, and orange colorations.  The striking colors and variations in design match the shape of the jar.  The jar has both an ancient and yet modern appearance.  Robert is certainly one of the leading traditional Acoma potters working today, as evidenced by his stunning forms and complementary designs.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “R. M. Patricio”.

Robert said recently of his pottery:

““The pottery inspires me to keep going.  Keeping the tradition alive in making pottery, that’s how we were brought up.  Our ancestors started making pottery.  It’s amazing what comes of a piece of clay. When you come to Acoma it’s peacuful and quite.  When you look a piece of pottery, you see the same peacefulness.”   Robert Patricio, 2020