Roxanne Swentzell’s clay sculptures communicate the full spectrum of the human spirit. Figures of Pueblo clowns, old men, mothers and children twist, turn, undulate, laugh, cry, repair themselves, and love each other. It is through this intricate balance of elements that her work reaches our humanity and engages us as both audience and participant.
Born in 1962 into a family of renowned Santa Clara Pueblo potters, Swentzell was destined to express herself with clay. Using ancient techniques, layering coil upon coil, she allows the clay to lead her to the human experiences each sculpture reveals.
Widely recognized as one of the top sculptors working today, Swentzell has won countless honors and her work is featured in prominent collections, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian where she was commissioned to create a permanent installation.
