TRIBE: Haliwa-Saponi

Senora Lynch is nationally known for her creation of exquisite American Indian handmade pottery. She creates each piece using a traditional hand-coiling method out of red and white clay, while adding a contemporary twist with her own style of etching designs into the surface.

“The spirit of clay has always inspired me. Working in clay takes me back to my childhood days of playing in mud, a free spirit.”

Senora became interested in making pottery at age fourteen after having been previously shown ancient pottery shards and assisting with a pottery class for her Haliwa-Saponi tribal elders. She also weaved chair bottoms alongside her mother and grandfather, learned to do beadwork, and started making American Indian regalia. 

Years later, her passion transformed into a business that she named “Living Traditions” because the designs on her pottery are full of living traditional stories and beliefs of her people. The designs come through the Night Sky and are revealed to her in her dreams. She uses many American Indian symbols and motifs found in the natural environment, including bowls, turtles, lizards, maidens, smudge bowls, wedding vases, bears, which work in unison to convey the story being told on that piece of pottery

Senora’s pottery has evolved to include different shapes, including bowls, turtles, lizards, maidens, smudge bowls, wedding vases, bears, and plaques, among others.

Senora is listed in the North Carolina Artist Directory, with which she has served as an artist in residency for over 20 years.  Senora has work in permanent collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and at the N.C. Museum of History. Senora was the recipient of the N.C. Folk Heritage Award in 2007 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the River People Music and Culture Fest in 2013, both for her work in promoting and preserving the culture of the Haliwa-Saponi people. Most recently, Senora’s strong designs have made it onto the walkway and seating of the University of NC at Chapel Hill’s campus.

“I look forward to how the clay will inspire me next.”