Irvin Louis

Artist Profile

Irvin Louis was born in 1955 into the Acoma Pueblo. He is a member of the Yellow Corn Clan and was given the Indian name of “Vines of the Melons”. Irvin was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from his ancestors. Continuing the long lived traditions is extremely important to him and his people. He began working with clay at the age of 14. He was taught the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery using the ancient methods past down to him from his family members. Irvin enjoys working with art because of the wide range of people which he encounters. He shares techniques and gives other artisans suggestions as well as welcomes opinions of others.

Irvin now specializes in working with contemporary pottery. He learned the art of making horse-hair pottery. He pours a ceramic white slip substance into a mold and then pours out the excess slip and allows it to dry. The ceramicware is then cleaned and polished. He heats the pottery in a kiln and randomly tosses authentic hair taken from the mane (thin lines) or the tail (thick lines) of a horse on the heated pottery. The resulting carbon being drawn into the surface of the pottery creates the wonderful designs and patterns. He cleans the finished pottery with a dry material creating a unique marbleized flare styled pot. He signs his pottery: Irvin J. Louis, Acoma.