Susi Nagoda Bergquist Coyote — Hand-Sculpted Ceramic, 2003

Alive with spirit and story, this hand-sculpted ceramic figure by Susi Nagoda Bergquist (Tohono O’odham), signed and dated 2003, brings the mythic Coyote to life as storyteller and sage. Standing upright with arms gently folded, the figure radiates poise and intelligence—an emissary between the seen and unseen worlds. Bergquist’s modeling captures a quiet animation: the tilt of the head, the alert ears, the suggestion of a grin that invites conversation.

The artist paints her Coyote in layered earth tones—ochre, russet, slate, and cream—accented by incised textures recalling woven cloth. Adorned with a luminous glass-bead necklace and earrings, the figure glimmers with both ritual dignity and playful wit. As in all of Bergquist’s work, the animal becomes mirror and messenger, embodying transformation, humor, and human truth.

A captivating piece that educates through its symbolism, engages through craftsmanship, and enchants through personality.

Condition:

Excellent overall. No chips, cracks, or repairs. Painted surfaces are crisp and intact, and all beadwork remains firmly attached.

Dimensions:

Height: 15.5 in | Width: 6 in | Depth: 5.5 in
Weight: 7.5 lbs
Please Note: Soup for Scale in Photo

Artist Biography:

Susi Nagoda Bergquist (Tohono O’odham) is a Southwestern artist celebrated for her hand-built ceramic figures that blend Native iconography with contemporary storytelling. Working from Arizona since the late 20th century, Bergquist infuses her human-animal hybrids with humor, introspection, and spiritual resonance. Her favored subject, Coyote, appears across her ceramics, paintings, and prints as both trickster and teacher—a being of contradiction and wisdom.

Her works have appeared in Santa Fe and regional exhibitions, including Coyote and Friends (1987) and A Dance with Dolls (1991), and are noted in institutional and private collections across the U.S., Japan, and Germany. Bergquist’s artistry lies in bridging cultures: she turns clay into narrative, and myth into presence—each figure a vessel of story, identity, and delight.