Carmel Lewis

Artist Profile

Carmel Lewis was born into the Acoma Sky City Pueblo. She is one of the daughters of the world renowned, late Lucy M. Lewis. Lucy was Carmel’s biggest inspiration for learning the ancient traditional methods of working with natural handmade pottery. Carmel’s unique hand painted designs are replicated from traditional symbols found on ancient pottery sherds. Lucy was the driving force behind the revival of pottery making as an art in the Acoma pueblo. The Lewis family keeps the same patterns and does not move to a contemporary style because it is very important to them to keep the true traditions and designs of the ancient mimbres people alive. Some of the designs replicated are the deer pot, lightning bolt pattern and the many variations of the mimbres patters. Carmel is related to Emma Lewis-Mitchell, Dolores Lewis-Garcia (sisters) and Drew Lewis (brother).