Shelden Nunez Velarde - Micaceous pottery - New Mexico

 

Shelden Nuñez-Velarde, a Jicarilla Apache artist, specializes in hand-coiled micaceous pottery. A member of the "Ollero" clan, meaning "maker of pots and pans," Shelden is a descendant of O'Há Montoya, a micaceous potter from Cimarron, New Mexico.

Trained under Lydia Pesata and Felipe Ortega, Shelden gathers his materials from high elevations, soaking, cleaning, and hand-coiling the clay before shaping, sanding, and polishing each piece. The pottery is fired outdoors using pine or cedar wood, creating works that are both traditional and contemporary.

With over twenty-five years of experience, Shelden has received national recognition and teaches workshops throughout the Southwest. He is also an accomplished bead-worker and basket-maker.

"I honor my ancestors' traditions while evolving my craft to share with future generations." - Shelden Nuñez