Donna Robertson-Navasie

Artist Profile

Donna Navasie-Robertson, “Parrot Girl”, was born in 1972 into the Hopi-Tewa Reservation. Donna is the granddaughter to Joy “Frogwoman” Navasie, but it was her mother, Marianne Navasie, who inspired her to continue the family tradition of pottery making. Marianne taught Donna the fundamentals of making pottery the traditional Hopi way. Donna began experimenting with pottery at the age of 10 and by the time she was 16 years old she began taking her artistic abilities more serious.

Donna specializes in hand coiling the white slip Hopi pottery which her great grandmother is credited for originating. Donna creates pottery of different shapes and sizes. She strongly believes in continuing family traditions, not because of the family she was born into, but because it is a way of life for her people and she is proud to be a part of it. Donna signs her pottery with the Frog symbol and a tadpole and adds her initials D.R. Donna is related to Paqua Naha (great grandmother) and the late Eunice “Fawn” Navasie (aunt).