Phil Poseyesva
Phil Poseyesva is from the Second Mesa Village of the Mishongnovi on the Hopi reservation. He belongs to the Bear Clan.
A self-taught artist, Phil who has been active since 1973. At the age of thirteen Phil began experimenting with different styles of jewelry making. From that time he has gradually mastered the art of traditional and contemporary Hopi overlay jewelry. His work is contemporary even though the symbols he uses are very traditional.
He has exhibited and won awards at numerous Native American jewelry exhibits over the years. He is noted in a 1991 article in the New York Times.
Phil Poseyesva’s work is in Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, California, the National Collection in Washington DC, the Eiteljorge Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Gilcrease Museum in Oklahoma. He has also been a featured artist at the Indian Craft Shop at the Department of Interior, in Washington, DC.
Phil and his work are featured in the books Southwestern Indian Jewelry by Dexter Cirillo and Art of the Hopi by Jerry and Lois Jacka.
"Phil Poseyesva is respected as a top Hopi jeweler. He is known for using highly abstract Hopi symbols--representing rain, corn, birds and kachinas--combined with his bold use of color." Gregory Schaaf's book American Indian Jewelry III: M-Z 2,100 Artist Biographies
