About the Artist
Marcella Yepa is 4/4 Native American. 1/2 Jemez Pueblo (Fathers side) located in New Mexico and 1/2 Chickasaw (Mothers side) located in Oklahoma. Marcella was born March 16, 1964 and raised in Jemez Pueblo. She began working with clay at 19 years old. Her grandmother Felipita Yepa, taught her where to find the best clays and how to create fine pottery, using traditional construction and firing techniques. For more than 35 years, she has used this knowledge passed down through family to create one of a kind works of art.
Marcella has a distinctive style, marked by dramatic swirls and elegant shapes. She is particularly known for the graceful curves of her melon bowls, seed pots, wedding vases and Chickasaw inspired designs. She works in red, buff, green and charcoal, sometimes adding a micaceous slip for subtle sparkle. Her striking pieces are simultaneously traditional and contemporary, as her masterful use of ancient techniques gives expression to her thoroughly modern vision. Her work exudes both energy and calm, dynamism and tranquility. It is endlessly fascinating to explore.
Marcella's work is carried by the Smithsonian Museum, Heard Museum and the U.S. Department of the Interior, as well as leading galleries in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Maine, Texas, Utah and more.
She comes from a long family line of talented clay artists, including Felipita, Alvina, Salvador, Lawrence and Emma, among others.
Her pottery is signed as:
Marcella Yepa, Jemez
or
M Yepa, Jemez
Marcella has a distinctive style, marked by dramatic swirls and elegant shapes. She is particularly known for the graceful curves of her melon bowls, seed pots, wedding vases and Chickasaw inspired designs. She works in red, buff, green and charcoal, sometimes adding a micaceous slip for subtle sparkle. Her striking pieces are simultaneously traditional and contemporary, as her masterful use of ancient techniques gives expression to her thoroughly modern vision. Her work exudes both energy and calm, dynamism and tranquility. It is endlessly fascinating to explore.
Marcella's work is carried by the Smithsonian Museum, Heard Museum and the U.S. Department of the Interior, as well as leading galleries in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Maine, Texas, Utah and more.
She comes from a long family line of talented clay artists, including Felipita, Alvina, Salvador, Lawrence and Emma, among others.
Her pottery is signed as:
Marcella Yepa, Jemez
or
M Yepa, Jemez
Awards and Publications
2019 - 2nd Place: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2019 - 2nd Place: Seasam Art Market, Tishomingo, Oklahoma
2019 - 3rd Place: Seasam Art Market, Tishomingo, Oklahoma
2019 - 3rd Place: Artisan Art Festival, Sulphur, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2018 - Best of Division: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2018 - 1st Place: Seasam Art Market, Tishomingo, Oklahoma
2018 - 2nd Place: Santa Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe, New Mexico (pictured above)
2018 - 1st Place: Artisan Art Festival, Sulphur, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2017 - 2nd Place: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2017 - 3rd Place: Artisan Art Festival, Sulphur, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2010 - 1st Place: Eight Northern Pueblos Annual Arts Show, Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
2008 - 1st Place: Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2007 - 1st Place: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma
3rd Place: Eight Northern Pueblos Annual Arts Show, Ohkay Owingeh, NM
3rd Place: Gallup Intertribal Indian Ceremonial Art Show, Gallup, NM
2015 First American Art Magazine
1996 Edition of New Mexico Magazine
1996 Southwestern Pottery, Anasazi to Zuni
Ed Samuels 21st Abstract book
Southern Pueblo Potter 2000 Artist Biographies
2019 - 2nd Place: Seasam Art Market, Tishomingo, Oklahoma
2019 - 3rd Place: Seasam Art Market, Tishomingo, Oklahoma
2019 - 3rd Place: Artisan Art Festival, Sulphur, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2018 - Best of Division: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2018 - 1st Place: Seasam Art Market, Tishomingo, Oklahoma
2018 - 2nd Place: Santa Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe, New Mexico (pictured above)
2018 - 1st Place: Artisan Art Festival, Sulphur, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2017 - 2nd Place: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2017 - 3rd Place: Artisan Art Festival, Sulphur, Oklahoma (pictured above)
2010 - 1st Place: Eight Northern Pueblos Annual Arts Show, Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
2008 - 1st Place: Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2007 - 1st Place: Cherokee Art Market, Tulsa, Oklahoma
3rd Place: Eight Northern Pueblos Annual Arts Show, Ohkay Owingeh, NM
3rd Place: Gallup Intertribal Indian Ceremonial Art Show, Gallup, NM
2015 First American Art Magazine
1996 Edition of New Mexico Magazine
1996 Southwestern Pottery, Anasazi to Zuni
Ed Samuels 21st Abstract book
Southern Pueblo Potter 2000 Artist Biographies