Alan E. Lasiloo (1969- )

Born at Zuni Pueblo, Alan E. Lasiloo (1969-present) moved to Santa Fe to attend the Institute of American Indian Arts.  He took pottery classes there, learning to work with the shiny micaceous clay of Northern New Mexico and honed his skills in those class sessions.  He clearly is an outstanding potter.   

He continued his education at the American College for the Applied Arts in Los Angeles where he studied fashion design.  “I try to utilize what I have learned about fashion design by using lines, curves and pleats in my clay sculptures.  This creates movement and brings life to the pieces.” 

After these formal studies, he returned home to Zuni Pueblo in 1999.  Putting his education to use, he taught himself how to bring into use the white clay of Zuni Pueblo that he remembered his grandmother using when she was alive.  He first entered his work to be judged at Santa Fe’s Indian Market in 2007.  By incorporating philosophies of fashion design while testing form and firing techniques, he has garnered many awards from his pottery making.   These accolades have enabled him to be very collectable ceramics artist.

Lasiloo perhaps honed his skills while attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.  He observably is an outstanding potter.   The white clay of the Zuni Pueblo has taken on a whole new look under the skilled hands of Alan Lasiloo.  In his early efforts, Alan made many “mistakes,” but he worked with the results, transforming what some would consider errors into beautiful features of his designs.  One of his innovations has given his white clay works a tactile, silky sheen.  Other innovations involve firing techniques.  For instance, Alan has found a way to enhance streaking, transforming a common firing mistake into an appealing part of his designs.  He also continues to make micaceous clay pieces.  These emphasize painted images, despite the difficulty of painting on the porous micacious clay.  Alan says the images require six or more costs of paint and a steady hand.

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