Museum of International Folk Art | May 2026

I Am Clay: Acoma Life in Figures Opening in the Mark Naylor and Dale Gunn Gallery of Conscience

I Am Clay: Acoma Life in Figures is the first exhibition devoted exclusively to the figurative pottery of Acoma Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. In collaboration with Acoma advisors Prudy Correa, Claudia Mitchell, Marilyn Ray, and Lilly Salvador, and guest curator Brian Vallo, the exhibition centers Indigenous knowledge, lived experience and artistic voice.

Featuring approximately 120 works from the Museum of International Folk Art’s (MOIFA) collection, many of which were collected by Alexander Girard in the 1960s, with additional loans from Haak’u Museum, the School for Advanced Research, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and a private collection, the exhibition expands understanding of Acoma pottery beyond its renowned traditional forms and fine-line and geometric designs. Figurative forms—animals, human figures and scenes of daily life—reflect family traditions, economic survival, influence of tourism and artistic innovation.

Installed in the museum’s Mark Naylor and Dale Gunn Gallery of Conscience, I Am Clay is part of the national initiative Handwork 2026, organized by Craft in America, celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the United States. The exhibition foregrounds resilience, cultural continuity and self-representation through artist-written texts, filmed interviews, a gallery guide and newly commissioned works. The show opens at MOIFA on June 7, 2026 and will run through late November 2026. It will then travel to Acoma Pueblo’s Haak’u Museum, opening in February 2027.

Photo credit: Frances Torivio (Acoma Pueblo), Face Cup Set, ca. early 1970s, handbuilt Acoma clay with mineral paints, silver, turquoise, shell. Museum of International Folk Art, IFAF Collection, FA.2025.19.1a-e. Photo by Addison Doty.

How You Can Help

Become an Exhibition Sponsor

Your support makes possible I Am Clay: Acoma Life in Figures, a landmark community-curated exhibition in Santa Fe, as well as traveling and installation costs at the Haak’u Museum at Acoma Pueblo.

Support Educational Programs

Your donation will also support the opening weekend events, including a panel discussion with community curators and artists as well as artists demonstrations and gallery talks throughout the run of the show.

$10,000 | STORYTELLER CIRCLE

Premier recognition on exhibition acknowledgment panel • Name listed year-round on the Museum donor wall • Name listed in printed gallery guide • Private curator-led exhibition tour • Invitations to related exhibition programming • VIP invitation to opening at Acoma Pueblo • Private tour of Acoma Pueblo • Special gratitude gift made by community curator

$5,000 | ARTISTIC INNOVATOR

Recognition on exhibition acknowledgment panel • Name listed year-round on the Museum donor wall • Name listed in printed gallery guide • Private curator-led exhibition tour • Invitations to related exhibition programming • VIP invitation to opening at Acoma Pueblo • Special gratitude gift made by community curator

$2,500 | POTTERY MAKER

Recognition on exhibition acknowledgment panel • Name listed year-round on the Museum donor wall • Name listed in printed gallery guide • Invitations to related exhibition programming • Special gratitude gift made by community curator

$1,000 | CULTURAL CONTINUITY STEWARD

Recognition on exhibition acknowledgment panel • Name listed year-round on the Museum donor wall • Name listed in printed gallery guide • Invitations to related exhibition programming

$500 | FIGURATIVE POTTERY SPONSOR

Name listed in printed gallery guide • Invitations to related exhibition programming

$250 | CLAY FRIEND

Invitations to related exhibition programming

If you have any questions about sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to reach out to me directly at 505.216.0829 or laura@museumfoundation.org.

Museum of International Folk Art | May 2026

Connect