Forged in Earth and Fire: The Ancestral Art of Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery
Above Image: Indians of Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, making pottery, 1916
A Tradition Shaped by the Elements
There is a profound difference between a piece of pottery fired in a temperature-controlled, computerized kiln and one born from the unpredictable forces of nature. For generations, the potters of the Santa Clara Pueblo have transformed clay gathered from their ancestral lands into striking polished vessels, relying on a traditional open-air ground firing technique that requires as much instinct as it does skill.
Today, we are thrilled to feature a video that offers a rare glimpse into this ancient process, guided by the hands of a new generation carrying an extraordinary legacy forward.
The Science and Soul of Ground Firing
In our featured video below, potters Joseph and Sergio Youngblood Lugo walk us through the intricate art of ancient ground firing. As the great-grandsons of Margaret Tafoya and the sons of noted potter Nancy Youngblood, Joseph and Sergio have mastered a process that is entirely contingent on the elements.
Indigenous Woman Burning Pottery in the Santa Clara Pueblo of New Mexico
Unlike modern ceramics, ground firing leaves no room for error. The potters must draw upon their ancestral knowledge and a deep understanding of the earth, calculating exact weather, humidity, and wind conditions. They aren’t just baking clay; they are managing a precise chemical reaction. By smothering the fire with powdered manure at the exact right moment, they create a “reduction atmosphere,” starving the fire of oxygen to draw the oxygen out of the red clay itself. It is this exact, instinct-driven chemical reaction that turns the polished red clay into the deep, lustrous blackware the Santa Clara Pueblo is famous for.
WATCH: Ancestral Firing Technique Produces Unique Polished Pottery by Craft in America
Running Time: 2:53
The Matriarch: Margaret Tafoya (1904–2001)
No conversation about Santa Clara pottery is complete without honoring the matriarch of the tradition: Margaret Tafoya (Tewa name: Corn Blossom). As the undisputed cornerstone of our collection’s highlight, Margaret’s influence on Native American art is monumental.
Learning from her mother, Sara Fina, Margaret became world-renowned for her ability to build exceptionally large, flawlessly polished blackware vessels entirely by hand. She fiercely defended traditional methods, rejecting the potter’s wheel and modern kilns in favor of hand-coiling and natural open-air firing. Her signature deeply carved motifs—particularly the bear paw (a symbol of good luck, as the bear always knows where to find water) and the Avanyu (water serpent)—have become synonymous with Santa Clara excellence. In 1984, she was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship, cementing her legacy as one of the most important Native American artists of the 20th century.
A Legacy of Precision: Nathan Youngblood
The Tafoya legacy is beautifully carried forward by Margaret’s grandson, Nathan Youngblood. Born in 1954 and apprenticed under Margaret and his grandfather Alcario, Nathan has spent decades pushing the boundaries of traditional forms.
Nathan is celebrated for his structural precision and near-geometric perfection. In the 1990s, he began incorporating his love for Asian ceramics into his work, leading to designs that are complex, ethereal, and less strictly linear than historic pieces. He is also one of the few Santa Clara potters who expertly uses natural clay slips to create striking contrasts of polished red and tan against matte surfaces. With over 140 awards to his name—including more than 40 from the Santa Fe Indian Market—Nathan has set a new benchmark for balancing technical expertise with bold innovation, all while strictly adhering to the traditional firing methods of his ancestors.
The Expanding Family Tree
The strength of the Santa Clara pottery tradition lies in its family ties. Our collection is proud to feature several other masterful artists from this incredible lineage:
Teresita Tafoya Naranjo
Margaret’s niece, who was widely acknowledged as one of the finest 20th-century potters, celebrated for her elegantly carved black and red works and quiet, timeless forms.
Mida Tafoya
Margaret’s daughter, recognized for carrying forward the family legacy with graceful shapes, meticulous carving, and a deep respect for ancestral hand-coiling methods.
Judy and Lincoln Tafoya
A powerful collaborative partnership within the family, known for producing large-scale contemporary vessels with bold sculptural forms and flawless polished surfaces.
The art of Santa Clara Pueblo pottery is not just about the finished vessel; it is about the unbroken chain of knowledge passed down through hands, clay, and fire.
