EXHIBITION EVENTS
: Pottery
Slide Lecture & Panel Discussion
-About
King Galleries
-What They Say About Us!
-Gallery Address
-Ordering Information
-Payment Plan
About King Galleries of Scottsdale . . .
King Galleries of Scottsdale is pleased to represent the Pueblo pottery of many of today's leading potters. Over the years we have taken the time to get to know each of our gallery artists. As each new pieces comes into the gallery, we talk with the artist, finding out about the time and thought that goes into their work. It is important with contemporary pottery to understand the designs and motivation of the artist and their work. Over time, we feel as if we not only have a business relationship with most of the potters, but also a friendship.
Each piece of pottery that we have in the gallery is hand coil built, stone polished, painted and almost all are traditionally fired. One of our goals here at the gallery has been to encourage the use of traditional methods of making and firing pottery while encouraging the potters to be creative and innovative in their forms and designs. With all of the Native American potters, there is so much history, culture and tradition in their work it often takes time to see the full depth of any one piece!
Since its inception, King Galleries has been committed to represent work by potters who create the highest quality and greatest innovation in their pottery. Charles King has been a judge for pottery at the most prestigious Indian art events, such as Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Indian Market and Gallup Ceremonials. He has also given numerous talks on Pueblo pottery and Zuni fetishes at the Heard Museum and the Pueblo Grande Museum. He was on the Board of Directors of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA), which has the mission of encouraging and preserving authentic Indian art. Mr. King has written about pottery in the book "Collecting Authentic Indian Art" and an article in American Indian Art Magazine entitled, "Pueblo Pottery: Folk Art to Fine Art". His first book, Born of Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya, was published in 2008.
While King Galleries is pleased to represent many of today's leading potters, we also encourage the work of many talented, younger potters. We have long felt that it is very important to encourage those potters who are just beginning their careers. We take the time to talk about their pottery and discuss ways to improve their technique, designs and their future. Mr. King works closely with all of the gallery potters. They are given feedback on what collectors think of new work, they discuss where the artist is going with their work, new trends, new ideas and providing an understanding of the market. We are always excited when we have work by these younger artists in the gallery and can watch them grow over time!
For the past eight years, King Galleries and Native American Collections have jointly sponsored the "Artist's Choice Award" at Santa Fe Indian Market. We began doing this as a tribute to potter Kevin Trancosa, who was amazingly talented, and passed away very young. Our hope was not only to encourage other young artists, and also to reflect on the importance of the artist's own vision and intention of their artwork.
Please let us know at kgs@kinggalleries.com if you have any additional questions on any of the artwork featured on our website. We are constantly communicating with our artists and would be glad to let you know what we are expecting here in the gallery. We do not encourage special orders, as they often take longer to create than expected and often are not nearly as exciting as the artist's current body of work and direction. We can also be contacted by phone at 480.481.0187!
2008
Rockwell Museum of Western Art, "The Gallery Perspective with Charles King", May 7, 2008
"Join gallery owner and Pueblo pottery expert Charles King for a presentation and discussion on his experience of collecting and representing the work of today’s most innovative Native American potters. He will discuss his long-standing relationship with the potters and the role his gallery plays in representing the artists’ work to the public.
This program will wrap up the four-part “Perspective Series” inspired by the special exhibition,
Crafted to Perfection: The Nancy& Alan Cameros Collection of Southwestern Pottery
, currently on view through May 18, 2008."
"Scottsdale Native Arts Mecca", Native Peoples Magazine Jan/Feb 2008
"Visit King Galleries of Scottsdale, opened by Charles King in 1996. In a contemporary space with a rustic touch - a white-wood beam ceiling - you'll see the work of many of today's leading Pueblo potters, including fineline Acoma black-and-white designs, black-on-black pots from San Ildefonso and polychrome works from Santa Clara, as well as some select works in other media. Pottery includes historic and contemporary pieces. King says, "Over the years, we've taken the time to know each of our gallery artists."
2007
"Crafted to Perfection: The Nancy & Alan Cameros Collection of Southwestern Pottery"
Sheila Hoffman, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Corning, NY
"To Charles King, I am simply indebted forever. After being initially inspired by an article of his, I continued to seek his counsel as the catalogue progressed. Charles responded with amazing generosity, ultimately reading and vetting most aspects of this catalogue. The passion and knowledge he has for Southwestern pottery is immense and invaluable. The catalogue has benefited from his insight and opinions, and is an unquestionably superior product because of him". p. 9
"So, in devising the structure of this catalogue, it became apparent that it must reflect the tastes of the collectors, the collection itself, and the artists' work within. The accepted method of objective, academic organization was poorly suited to illuminating a subjectively composed private collection. A new method was needed. Charles King, of the King Galleries of Scottsdale, Arizona, deserves credit for inspiring the structure that became a solution for this book. His article in the winter 2005 American Indian Art Magazine, "Pueblo Pottery: From Folk Art to Fine Art" divided contemporary potters (those producing in the past 30 years) into three groups: The Foundation, Contemporary Traditionalists, and Contemporary Innovators. After a discussion with Charles King, he generously gave me permission to use his ideas as a springboard."
"For the purposes of this catalogue, which comprises work from more than 100 years of Southwestern pottery, Charles King's categories needed to be expanded and altered. It seemed clear that this catalogue should begin with the great matriarchs who revived or created traditions in their respective pueblos or reservations. From there, it seemed initially obvious that some potters since that time became known for either preserving tradition (traditionalists, if you will) or expanding upon it (innovators). p. 19
"Collaborations in Clay: Pueblo Pottery in NYC, Part VII"
May, 2007
"Ambitious! That is probably the best way to describe what turned out to be one of our most interesting and exciting gallery theme events. We asked 20 potters to collaborate in pairs, and create a single piece of pottery. The artists were paired based on style and not on relation or pueblo. They were encouraged to work outside their comfort zone, and to learn something from the other artist, or to try something new and expand their knowledge of the clay. A few of the results are seen below, and a few still remain to be finished. This project became a learning experience for the artists and for us at the gallery. This was certainly an opportunity to see Pueblo potters grow in their craft, knowledge and connection to other potters. Thanks to everyone for being part of such an amazing event!" Charles S. King
2006
"Made in the Southwest" by Laura Morelli, August, 2006
"The owner of King Galleries used to sit on the Board of Directors of the Indian Arts & Crafts Association, which is indicative of the gallery's commitment to high quality pueblo pottery. Whether your fancy leads towards the black and white designs of Acoma, or the black on black decorated vessels from Santa Clara, or something else entirely, chances are you can find a quality piece here and learn more about it than you ever imagined from the knowledgeable staff."
"Free Spirit: The New Native American Potter" by Garth Clark
"Native ceramists view the Free Spirits with ambivalence. Some welcome the change and fresh ideas they bring to the field. Others are concerned that they are a thin edge of a wedge that may open tradition up to erosion. As the Scottsdale dealer Charles King points out, this has less to do with the shape, images or subject of the pot itself than with how it is made, 'The fight between tradition and innovation is over the sanctity of process, not content'." p. 15
"Free Spirit Museum Exhibit", May 20, 2006
"Free Spirits" SM's Museum, The Netherlands
An exhibit of Contemporary Pottery by Virgil Ortiz, Susan Folwell, Christine McHorse, Diego Romero & Nathan Begaye
Symposium on Pueblo pottery as an opening to the Free Spirits Exhibit
-Lectures by Christine McHorse, Diego Romero, Susan Folwell & Virgil Ortiz
-Charles King, King Galleries of Scottsdale, "Pueblo Pottery; Encouraging Standards for High Quality and Innovation"
- Round Table Discussion with the artists Virgil Ortiz, Susan Folwell, Diego Romero & Christine McHorse,
Pieter Hovens and Charles King, led by Garth Clark.
"Forms of Exchange" Museum Exhibit, April 28, 2006
The Resiliency of Indigenous Art Examined in Forms of Exchange: Art of Native Peoples from the Edward J. Guarino Collection
"Potter Susan
Folwell, whose work is seen in Forms of
Exchange, will begin with a slide lecture on
her work, and then join a panel discussion on
tradition and innovation in contemporary Pueblo
pottery. The panel will include Karen Lucic,
a professor of art at Vassar and the exhibition's
guest curator, Bruce Bernstein, a curator at
The National Museum of Natural History in
Washington, DC, and Charles King, of the King
Galleries in Scottsdale, AZ."
Native People's Magazine, March/April 2006
"King Galleries is of particular interest to pottery collectors. Founder Charles King is celebrating his 10th anniversary, representing of many of today’s leading Pueblo potters. Each piece of pottery in the gallery is handmade, stone polished and painted, and almost all are traditionally fired. “Tradition with a twist” is how King describes the featured work of Santa Clara potter LuAnn Tafoya. The daughter of renowned potter Margaret Tafoya, LuAnn has continued her mother’s legacy of large-scale vessels, which remains unique to the Tafoya family. Her high polish and use of traditional shapes and firing techniques yield spectacular masterpieces in clay.
Margaret Tafoya’s legacy also continues through the technical superiority in the innovative as well as traditional designs and presentations in the works of her grandson, Nathan Youngblood. A sixth-generation potter, Youngblood preserves the ancestral philosophy of his grandmother and mother, Mela, both of whom instilled in him that “clay is a gift; it is a privilege that the Clay Mother gives us.” King showcases Youngblood’s diligently sculpted pottery. "
2005
American Indian Art Magazine, Winter 2005, 30th Anniversary Issue
Arizona Republic, February 2005
"A savvy
observer might have noticed the swell of aqueous turquoise hues and
Indian-inspired creations.
Don't feel un-hip if you didn't.
Arizona has long embraced the at-once earthy and ethereal
fashions of Indian artists that East and West Coast trendsetters are now
sporting.
High-profile designers such as Ralph Lauren lit the wildfire for Southwestern
fashion. Last fall, he highlighted turquoise belts and jewelry. Designer Michael
Kors has since made turquoise stones the centerpiece of his high heels, pendants
and belts. And after interviewing designers, the Pantone Color Institute reports
that "blue turquoise" is the choice for the spring/summer 2005 season after
apple green.
Arizona jewelry sellers have felt the rush of foot traffic
and the inconvenience of trendy admiration. "Some of my suppliers are
having trouble keeping concha belts in as a result of this craze," said Martin
Kim, museum store manager at the Arizona State Museum in Tucson. Since
finding favor with high fashion, the market has been flooded with Southwestern
ersatz jewelry and designs. Selling fake jewelry disguised as Native American
hand-made art is illegal by federal law and is likely to continue to be an issue
in Arizona.
But Charles King, owner of King Galleries in Scottsdale,
said if the hot fashion moment sparks interest in the authentic art form of
Indian crafts, the trend could be good for Indian jewelers and dealers.
"There's always going to be those fakes," King said. "If Gucci watches are
popular, then there will be people making fake Gucci watches as well. And
there's always going to be a certain value in spending a little more for the
real thing."
Longtime Indian jewelry collector Andy Eisenberg of Scottsdale agreed that a
household name like Ralph Lauren will promote the popularity of authentic Indian
crafts. "He has had that sincere interest in the state and things Southwestern
for a long time, although he's using much more pieces in his ads now," Eisenberg
said. "And I think they're gorgeous. I like his use of the heavy concha belts."
Fashion has had a long off-again, on-again love affair with
Western dress, and turquoise in particular. The pioneers adopted moccasins
and beading in their garments. In the 1960s and '70s women adopted the
individuality of fringe and turquoise as they expressed their independence.
During the bicentennial, the Southwestern look returned as people yearned for
the nostalgia and romance of America's roots, said Dennita Sewell, fashion
curator at the Phoenix Art Museum. "It'll go beyond forever because it's
been going on forever," Sewell said. "It's an American tradition. It's iconic of
American style." In other words, don't toss any turquoise collected during
this reign of popularity in the yard-sale pile.
Far from the runways but no less timely, Phoenix's Heard
Museum presents the work of New Mexico pueblo potter artist/fashion designer
Virgil Ortiz. Ortiz collaborated with New York designer Donna Karan on her 2003
spring line. His display of traditional clay figures and haute couture continues
through June 2. Tote bags inspired by Ortiz's very pricey purses will sell for a
reasonable price at the upcoming Heard's 47th annual Indian Fair & Market. The
finest Indian jewelry makers in the country will display their wares at the fair
March 5 and 6.
2004
Arizona Republic, March 23, 2004
"Appraisals draw unique items: Native American artifacts judged"
by
Laura Dobbins, The Arizona Republic
SCOTTSDALE - Scottsdale silversmith Jon Bonnell noticed something unique about
one of the old yucca-leaf baskets belonging to Phoenix collector Dorthy
Goodman. The Papago weaver added a rim to the top of the vase-shaped
basket - almost as an afterthought. "You can see she worked backwards,
adding the rim after she had already finished the basket," said Bonnell, one
of the appraisers at this weekend's Native American Art and Artifacts
Appraisal Day at the Heard Museum North.
"It shows this person was very skilled. It also gives the
basket a unique finish," he told Goodman, who learned that one of the baskets
in her 30-piece collection could bring as much $3,400 at auction. The
thought of possibly owning a collector's item worth thousands spurred
visitors to bring Native American jewelry, pots, clothing, baskets and rugs so
professionals could appraise them. "Some learned they had imitations
that weren't worth much, while others found they had inherited a prize," said
Charles King of Leona King Gallery in Scottsdale.
For example, one customer had four items, but only one was authentic. It was a
basket purchased for 75 cents at a garage sale that appraised at $1,400.
Another customer learned that she owned two prehistoric pots dating back to
A.D. 1100. Bonnell learned about Native American baskets more than a
half-century ago as a youth working for his dad at the Fred Wilson Trading
Post on Central Avenue in Phoenix. In those days, Native American women wove
baskets outside the shop, selling them for $15 each.
2003
Native Peoples Magazine, Jan/Feb 2003
"I remember my first show, in the he late 1980's", recalls (Mark) Tahbo. "I was like a leaf rattling in the he wind, but I quickly learned how to mingle and talk with people. I always wanted gallery representation, and I kept wondering if I'd ever get approached. I met Charles at the Heard Market, and we immediately hit it off. We throw ideas back and forth, and he goes beyond what's expected. It's a great relationship". Another potter King has worked with extensively over the past decade, providing her with her first regular exposure, is Rainy Naha. She concludes, "I knew I had the talent, but he knows the business side so well. this is so important for artists. He has also told me, 'Don't be afraid. Go beyond. Build on traditions.' "
"While many art galleries represent the work of
Native American potters, just a select few specialize in showing only the very
best talents in this ancient art form. King Galleries, an
understated and compact art space ... is one of those select few.
Its focus is on the top Pueblo potters, both deceased and living. It's
the kind of gallery whose support of an artist's work means that individual is
among the very best talents in his or her field"
2000
Luxury Golf Magazine, 2000
"During the 1980's, better technical execution and an trend toward more refined and detailed work triggered increasing interest in pottery, according to Charles King of King Galleries of Scottsdale in Arizona. In the last five years, special pieces with designs that have transcended folk art to become fine art have been eagerly snatched up, King says."
1999
Travel & Leisure Magazine, January 1999
"King Galleries of Scottsdale. One of the best sources for contemporary Native American pottery is Charles King, who ferrets out the unusual."
"Collecting Authentic Indian Art"
"Pueblo Pottery" section written by Charles King
1997
Art Talk, December 1997
Tradition in Transition. "But for now the market seems to have entered a winnowing out stage where the abundance of cream is forcing the absolute best and brightest to the top. Charles King has a lovely gallery on Main Street in Scottsdale. He puts it succinctly: "It really has changed. There's so much Native artwork. The whole filed of quality has risen and there's much more creativity going on. You have to do more and rise and stand out than ever before." And collectors are paying close attention to the competition While in other areas of collecting the buyers are looking for the older, established names, serious collectors of Native art look through the other end of the telescope. "With collectors in the filed of Native American art there's always this desire to find who's going to be the next big name. It's the complete opposite of other kinds of art. The established names almost get set aside in the search for the young ones coming up. People are on the hunt for whoever is going to be the next Maria."
According to King the market is "very good" for the highest quality, most tasteful fine art pieces, especially jewelry and pottery. "Lower down it's not so good. Unfortunately, those top-end artist do the least work, " adds King, echoing the sad lament that can be heard among dealers of any kind of quality art."
1996
Art Talk, December 1996
"Speaking of wishing people well, there's a person I don't need to wish well because he's going to do quite well, thank you very much - and that would be Charles King. Now, if you flipped his name around, he would be King Charles and that's a more appropriate moniker . . . as in King of Native American pottery. It has been a long time since I have seen a new gallery with the were-with-all to become an instant success, but Charles is doing just that. He recently opened King Galleries of Scottsdale on Main Street and what a jewel of a gallery. Loaded with top quality (NO JUNK) Native American crafts but specializing in pottery (which I have always loved) and because of that, I think he will be enormously successful. "
Gallery Location and Contact Information
All items purchased over the internet are sent on approval with appropriate Credit Card authorization. We accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express. You may also make arrangements to pay by check. Please keep in mind that we do not pay shipping charges. When you place your order, we will give you a total amount, including the shipping.
All Items are sent on a 7 day approval. If you are not pleased with the piece for any reason, please call us and let us know it is being returned.
All of the pottery on our website are hand coiled or pinched, not wheel thrown. All materials used in making these pieces are natural materials, including the slips and paints.
Checks can be sent to:
King Galleries
7100 Main #1
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
We can be contacted at 800.394.1843 or at kgs@kinggalleries.com .
We are pleased to be able to offer an interest free payment plan for purchasing any item in the gallery. Typically, we ask for 20% down, and the remainder to be paid off within 3 months. Other arrangements may be available upon request.
If you are interested in paying a piece off over time, please let us know, as it is a GREAT way to get that perfect addition to your collection!