Susan Folwell
Susan Folwell (Mesa Flower) is from the Santa Clara Pueblo. She grew up in a pottery making family. Her grandmother is Rose Naranjo, her mother Jody Folwell, and her sister is Polly Rose Folwell. Susan recalled “As a child, I helped my mom. Honestly, it was a chore.” Susan loved art, but did not plan to be a potter. She studied design and fine arts photography at the Center of Creative Studies in Detroit, MI. She found that it did not give her the artistic freedom she wanted so she returned to the clay. She is now very well respected and highly regarded potter.
While Susan uses traditional clay and firing techniques, her unique contributions are in her designs and forms. She creates compositions with symbols from many Indian cultures. Susan’s work has global appeal. Her work speaks to the contemporary confluence of Indian identity. Susan is an exciting innovator.