Hopi Pueblo Kachina Miniature Mudhead Doll By Gary Shupla

Late 20th Century

4.25" H x 2.375" L x 1.875" W 

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root Holding a Rattle with Feathers and Carrying a watermelon and Feather in the Other Hand with Leather and Yarn Accessories

Excellent condition 

Gary Shupla is a contemporary Hopi Pueblo artist specializing in Katsina carvings. While biographical details are sparse in public records (common for many traditional Hopi artists who prioritize cultural humility over self-promotion), his work is documented in Native American art collections and sales. He hails from the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona and is part of a lineage of artisans continuing centuries-old traditions. Shupla's pieces, including this Mudhead doll, are hand-carved and painted, often featuring intricate details that reflect Hopi cosmology. He has also created other Katsinam, such as the Poli Taka (Butterfly Man) Kachina, which symbolizes pollination, rain, and bountiful harvests—common themes in Hopi art tied to agriculture and gratitude ceremonies.