Robert Patricio is known for his classic forms and use of both traditional and pre-historic imagery.  This jar is inspired by the work of Marie Z. Chino.  The jar has round body, elongated neck, and fluted rim.  The jar is painted with bee-weed (black).  It is a spiraling design of bird wings, which start small at the neck and then larger at the shoulder.  The change in the size of the design also amplifies the shape of the jar.  The last photo is of one of the classic jars by Marie Z. Chino, which is a comparison.  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