Sylvia Naha

Artist Profile

Sylvia Naha Humphrey, member of the Spider Clan, was born in 1951 into the Hopi-Tewa reservation. She is the granddaughter of the late “Paqua Naha” who was among the most famous and prolific Hopi-Tewa potters to ever have lived. Paqua’s first name means “frog” in the Spanish language. She is known as “Frog Woman”. Sylvia is also the daughter of the late Helen Naha “Feather Woman”.

Sylvia specializes in hand coiled white slip pottery. She learned the fundamentals of traditional pottery making from her mother, Helen. Many of the designs Sylvia paints on her pottery are Helen’s but she will incorporate them with her own. Sylvia signs her pottery with a feather symbol followed by a letter “S”. Sylvia is related to Burel Naha (brother), Joy “Frog Woman II” Navasie (aunt), Dee Setalla (cousin), Eunice “Fawn” Navasie and Dawn Navasie (cousin).