The Hopi Indian Nation in Northeastern Arizona is located approximately in the center of the Navajo Nation. The Hopi people inhabit the tips of three high fingers that span out south from the Black Mesa, which is the main land-form, and in the valleys adjacent to these "fingers." The Hopi villages atop these three fingers are called First Mesa, Second Mesa, and Third Mesa. The center for Hopi pottery artists is in Hano, which is one of three villages located atop First Mesa, in the eastern most mesa, and in the village, Polacca, below it.


Hopi pottery or Pueblo Pottery is made from clays excavated locally and fired to a color ranging from a light cream to a medium buff. The firing is done outdoors using the traditional method of packing the pottery in sheep dried manure, which is the most crucial part in the art of making pottery. Prior to firing the pottery, the potters polish the clay and apply vegetal and mineral paints for the designs. Some of the more famous Hopi families that use this technique are the Nampeyo Family and the Chapella Family. One family, the Navasie Family, applies a slip to the Hopi clay, producing a polished white surface, with vegetal paint designs. Most Hopi pottery designs have been adapted from shards of pottery made in the 15th and 16th centuries, which was a classic period of Hopi pottery.




The historic art form of producing Southwest pottery has been passed down throughout the generations. Hopi pottery artists are both male and female; however, the majority of artists are female. The pottery designs and symbols vary from artist to artist, and include eagles, parrots, roadrunners, migration patterns, eagle tail, kiva designs, pueblo style villages, severe weather, and other life germinating symbols such as corn. Colors vary as well; however, most pottery is beige or a tan color. Some artists prefer to etch kachina figures on their pots rather than to paint them, but the majority of Hopi pottery is painted with a natural dark paint from a weed called the Ausa by the Southwest Hopi people.