Joseph E. Namingha’s (’25) favorite shoes are one of a kind. But they aren’t vintage Nikes or trendy Adidas sneakers—they’re a simple pair of high-tops he painted with colorful symbols from his faith and culture.
The design, he says, combines his Native American heritage as a member of the Zuni tribe with Hebrew elements like the Star of David, showcasing the connection between the Bible and Book of Mormon.
The nontraditional art medium, inspired by the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites book series, earned him an honorable mention from the 2024 Maxwell Institute Book of Mormon Art Contest. Creating art helps Namingha de-stress and connect with his heritage—his usual medium is pottery, drawing inspiration from modern colors and designs like those found in comic books.
Art “connects me to my great-great-great-grandmother Nampeyo, who was a potter,” he says. Pottery is a tradition in Namingha’s family, and his father has made it his profession. Namingha grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and has lived in Zuni Pueblo. He followed his father’s footsteps to BYU, drawn by the university’s focus on lifelong learning and service.
“That resonated with me because it’s what I wanted to do, . . . to eventually give back to my Zuni community,” he says.
He’s already started by serving as president of the Tribe of Many Feathers, a BYU club that promotes appreciation for Native American communities on campus.
Between planning powwows and fry-bread sales, Namingha is busy as a BYU football equipment manager, the first counselor in his ward bishopric, and, of course, a student—studying history with an emphasis on the American West.
Eventually he hopes to attend law school to “study Native American law and then hopefully be able to help my tribe.”
