Rondina Huma

Hopi-Tewa

Rondina Huma was born 1947 in Keams Canyon, Arizona, and is a member of the Tewa Kachina/Parrot clan. She has lived in the village of Polacca since childhood. She signs her pottery Rondina Huma Tewa-Hopi. Although has not had any formal training in pottery making, she is considered to be one of the master potters. Her pottery is traditional in every manner– she does the entire process in the traditional Hopi fashion using nothing but native materials. She even makes her own paint brushes from the leaves of the yucca plant. She hand coils all her vessels and uses only vegetal and mineral paints. She exclusively fires outdoors, in the traditional way. Rondina creates some of the most perfect pottery vessels, balanced in every respect. They are burnished to a smooth and beautiful finish. Her intricate design work completely covers the entire surface area of the vessel. Her designs are minute or thumbnail images of Sikyatki prehistoric designs from her pueblo’s ancestral village. Widely sought after, she is a one of a kind artist. She has won the “Best of Show” award at Santa Fe Indian Market twice, in 1986 and 1997.