A community of chosen family, loved ones and friends filled Mojo Coffee Gallery, 2205 California St. NE, on May 22. These people came to the establishment to express their joy and grief, to share laughter and tears, and to tell stories about Marko Fields, the 71-year-old Northeast artist who passed away earlier this year.
The only thing Fields insisted on for his memorial was that Sting’s “Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot” be played to begin the ceremony. Abigail Fields, his daughter, reflected on the late artist’s paradoxical nature and way of teaching and mentoring those around him. “Through the outpouring of love I witnessed from his students … the inspiration and aspiration to try … to make the kind of lasting impact he has made, not just on the creative or academic practices of students, but on their persons, on their lives.”
The same evening, the crowd was introduced to Jacob Grohofer, the former employee hand-picked and trained by Fields to carry on the business of community and creativity that has become Mojo Coffee Gallery, the ceramicist’s best-known accomplishment.
As the Northeaster reported in the February 4, 2026 edition, the gallery features works from over 50 artists and his children described a space that became the structure for gifts of relationships and community that will carry on.
The memorial service, led by his children, spiritual leaders and his mentees, spoke often about the paradoxes that accompanied the irascible ceramicist, educator and entrepreneur through a life well lived. Abigail Fields’ voice broke before she took a breath and went on to say that, “Marko found a way to be all the things he wanted to be and he really was … the best version of … his best selves in this place. And he was able to make safe space here for others to be the things that they wanted to be too.”
Fields’ artistic endeavors, she said, brought him to explore “the geographies of the Midwest and American Southwest, Bolivia, the Caribbean, Northern Mexico, and the many surrealist landscapes of his imagination and his art.”
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- Marko Fields working on his ceramics. (Provided)
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- Abigail Fields begins her remarks about artist, musician, educator and entrepreneur Marko Fields. (Vince Brown)
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- A woman at the rememberance mourns Fields’ passing. Fields fronted The Royal Hiptites for the last decade. (Vince Brown)
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- Before Andrew Baumgartner, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, led attendees in reciting “The Lord’s Prayer,” the crowd sang “What A Wonderful World” towards the end of the memorial. (Vince Brown)
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- Fields family: Marko with son Michael on his lap and ex-wife Amy with daughter Abigail. (Provided)
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- Fields grinning in his trademark beret. (Provided)
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- After the memorial, food and drink were served and stories started pouring out. More family members and close friends shared what it was like for them to be friends with Fields. (Vince Brown)
The Minneapolitan has been transfixed by Mata Ortiz pottery for a long time and was introduced by Spencer MacCallum to three master potters who became lifelong friends: Diego Valles, Manuel Rodriguez and Martin Cota. He studied with the Mata Ortiz and Casa Grandes community of potters to practice the tradition of creating the distinctive Mexican ceramic known for its hand-built vessels, intricate painted designs and techniques. Modern Mata Ortiz pottery was inspired by the ancient Casas Grandes culture of northern Mexico. Fields described in his 2011 Mata Ortiz Pueblo collaborative show as a “community of potters whose work continues to take my breath away.”
Pastor Craig Peterson spoke of Fields’ deep Christian faith in terms of being someone who strived to “go deeper into the relationship with God — and people.” Fields attended Grace Lutheran at 1500 6th St. NE, where Peterson led congregants for many years.
12-step program members Nate F. and Dan O. introduced themselves by first name and last initial and spoke about Fields’ journey in recovery from substance abuse and his unwavering support for and to those he met along the way
“Marko’s gift of recovery to others has been really, really powerful,” Dan said. He went on to mention that they were close, and that his friend was a “Giving person — he mentored you on anything — whether you liked it or not,” drawing a hearty laugh from many attendees.
The duo then grew more solemn and presented the Fields family members with an “Eternity Coin,” or a “Infinity Medallion,” a coin which honors members who have passed away while staying clean from substance use. Nate spoke about Fields’ 40 years of continuous sobriety, which was celebrated August 10, 2025.
Marko and his wife, Amy Fields, were married for 32 years and divorced amicably in 2021. Marko remained the sole owner of the coffee shop. The former couple visited frequently during the last months of his life.
Pastor Andrew Baumgartner closed the memorial service portion of the evening by leading those gathered in The Lord’s Prayer.
Loved ones and friends lined up for some of Fields’ favorite Northeast food from Holy Land. The evening’s celebration started with a breaking of bread in a space that Fields imbued with communal memory.
During the evening’s celebration, Michael Fields honored his father by speaking to the crowd. He paused, looked around, and said, “So when you have thoughts or feelings this evening that kick your ass a little bit, remember that Marko wishes you much peace and love.”