Painted Perfection

The Pottery of Dextra Quotskuyva

Dextra Quotskuyva (b. 1928) is one of the most influential Native American potters of the past half-century. Each of her painted designs is unique and flawlessly executed. Quotskuyva (Hopi-Tewa) learned her masterful handling of clay through her distinguished family including her great-grandmother, famed potter Nampeyo; mother, Rachel Namingha; and grandmother, Annie Healing. Native American pottery scholar, collector, and dealer Martha H. Struever worked closely with Quotskuyva for a quarter century. This book, a companion to a retrospective exhibition at the Wheelwright Museum in 2001, explores Quotskuyva’s craft, artistry, traditions and innovations that set her apart from other Pueblo potters of her generation.