Nathan Begaye


Nathan Begaye was a Native American ceramics artist of Navajo and Hopi descent.

Background

Nathan Begaye was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1958 to a Navajo father and a Hopi mother. He was raised by his maternal grandparents in the Third Mesa and Tuba City, Arizona. His aunt was noted Hopi potter Otellie Loloma. His upbringing in the Navajo/Hopi communities was steeped in tribal traditions, and he was schooled in the lore, history, religion, symbolism, and customs of the Navajo and Hopi peoples.

Art career

Begaye's interest in pottery began early, at age 10, and he had his first public exhibition only one year later. He learned traditional techniques and pigment recipes from people in his tribal community, both Navajo and Hopi. As they were tribal secrets, he kept these to himself even when he became a teacher later in life. After receiving a SWAIA scholarship, he left home at age 14 to study ceramics at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM.
Although his upbringing was very conservative, Begaye used unexpected and unorthodox techniques in his work. Said to utilize a "maverick sense of form, texture, color, and design," Begaye's work was often personal and autobiographical.

Notable collections

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  • and and, SM's-Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch/NL

Selected exhibition history

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