Strong, dizzying geometric decoration is Leslie Thompson's hallmark. A class on Native American pottery clarified her desire to work with surface designs on clay. Indigenous art, quilt patterns, Japanese op art and the work of M.C. Escher also contribute inspiration.

All Thompson's carving is done freehand. The carving alone on a miniature piece can require three hours; a full-sized piece can require 10 hours, depending on design. The way the boxy patterns distort to conform to the curvaceous shapes of the pot is an unexpected element, but it pleases her. "I like that mix: hard-edged design with a curvy, voluptuous shape," she says.

She applies animal fetishes, carved by Zuni Indians in New Mexico, to some of the lidded forms. "The fetishes seem to humanize the pots," she adds. "They complement the form of the vessel and contrast the formality of the design."