Juan Tafoya Art

Juan Tafoya was a well-known San Ildefonso Pueblo potter who has been active since 1970. Early on in his career, Juan began experimenting with firing techniques to achieve a brown/black combination and experimented with using turquoise as a decorative element. He specialized in sgraffito designs where he would chip away at the polished slip to form a textured background. According to a letter previously provided by Tafoya, he was a lifelong resident of San Ildefonso Pueblo and was involved in pottery making since he was first able to gather the materials that go into making pottery. He was taught the art of pottery making by his mother, Donica Tafoya. Tafoya passed away prematurely at age 57 years.