Born in 1958, James Nampeyo was a great-grandson of Nampeyo of Hano. His grandmother was Fannie Polacca Nampeyo, his mother Leah Garcia Nampeyo. James grew up surrounded by some of the finest potters in the Hopi-Tewa world but he credited his grandmother, Fannie, with teaching him most of what he knew. He also learned from her to never deviate from the shapes, styles and designs from ancient Sikyatki as made famous by his great-grandmother.

James lived in Tucson for years but still dug his own clay from the Hopi mesas and still prepared his own painting materials. Earlier in life he was married to Fawn Navasie (the daughter of Eunice Navasie and granddaughter of Paqua Naha) and he collaborated with her sometimes over the years. However, in his own creations he stayed with the shapes, styles and designs of his great-grandmother, as his grandmother taught him to do so many years before.

James favorite designs included thunderbirds, eagle tails, feathers and clowns. We're sorry to say that James passed away in the first week of July, 2019.