Helen Shupla

Helen Shupla (1928–1985) was an American potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico.

Career Shupla was born in 1928 as a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo, with heritage from Tohono O'odham (Papago).

Helen was active in her pottery work throughout her life, particularly in the 1940s through 1960s.

Shupla is most well known in the art world for her melon-shaped pots; Her husband would sometimes add carvings to her pots after she was done shaping them. the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Brooklyn Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Personal life and death Helen married Kenneth Shupla of the Hopi tribe. They had two daughters and one son. One of the daughter's Jeannie, married Alton Komalestewa of the Hopi tribe. She taught Alton her unique melon pot technique, which he continues to use to this day.

Shupla died in 1985.