UNCP to Showcase Acclaimed Potter Senora Lynch in Eighth Biennial Native American Art Exhibition

Nationally acclaimed Haliwa-Saponi potter Senora Lynch, whose work blends traditional techniques with powerful storytelling, will be the featured artist in UNC Pembroke’s Eighth Biennial Native American Art Exhibition, on view Sept. 18 through Oct. 16 at the A.D. Gallery.

An reception and artist talk for SENORA – RED “Speak through clay” will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the gallery located in Locklear Hall.

Lynch has gained acclaim for her distinctive hand-carved pottery, created using traditional coiling methods and decorated with Native American symbols and motifs inspired by her childhood in “The Meadows,” Hollister, N.C. Through her art, Lynch tells the stories of her tribe and honors her heritage.

Her work has been exhibited at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. It is held in permanent collections at the Museum of History in Raleigh and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. In 2004, Lynch created The Gift, a public art mosaic walkway at UNC-Chapel Hill — the university’s first monument honoring Native Americans.

Beyond her artistic contributions, Lynch has revitalized cultural traditions within the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, including introducing the Husquanaweh ceremony for young women. In recognition of her extraordinary cultural impact, she received the North Carolina Heritage Award in 2007, becoming the youngest recipient and the first Haliwa-Saponi artist to be honored with the prestigious award.

Lynch is featured in Contemporary Pottery from North Carolina’s American Indian Communities by Sally Peterson, folklife specialist with the North Carolina Arts Council. She continues to inspire future generations through her art and teaching.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the A.D. Gallery at adgallery@uncp.edu or 910.521.6405.