Lucy Lewis - Hayden DiMitri

 

Lucy Lewis was a Native American ceramicist known as one of the greatest Matriarch potters of the past century. Her designs, like Maria Martinez’s, were inspired by the art of the Pueblo tribe. Most of Lewis’s artworks were influenced by the nature around her—the sky, the weather, and animals—as seen in the picture above. She primarily made small coiled pots from gray clay that were slipped and painted with a yucca brush. Her pieces were regarded as sacred works amongst her tribe. Lewis’ artwork grew famous, so much that she was invited to the White House in 1977. Additionally, she received the New Mexico Governor’s Award for outstanding personal art contribution in 1983. Her artwork remains part of a permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institution.

I really enjoy this piece because of the animal and the pattern surrounding it. The black strokes against the white background of the pot easily capture one’s attention. Additionally, the symmetry of three lines for each shape pleases me to no end. Lastly, the animal has an exciting design on it, and whatever it is is left up to interpretation.