Barbara and Joseph Cerno

Joseph Cerno was born on January 30, 1947, and Barbara on October 20, 1951. Barbara has Acoma heritage from her mother, Esther Gunn Hayah, and Hopi roots from her father, William David Hayah of Polacca, Hopi. Together, Joseph and Barbara have been crafting traditional, handmade Acoma pottery for over 40 years, starting in their late teens. Both were taught the ancient craft by Joseph’s mother, Santana Cimmeron Cerno, though she didn’t actively encourage them to pursue pottery during their upbringing.

Barbara and Joseph began creating miniatures together in 1969. Over the years, their skills developed, and they progressed to producing larger and larger pieces. Today, they are renowned for crafting some of the largest Acoma pots ever made. Their journey to success began with a 1st Prize ribbon at the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonials in 1971, and this marked the beginning of a long and award-winning career. The couple has earned recognition at major Southwestern pottery events, including Santa Fe Indian Market and the New Mexico State Fair. They are particularly celebrated for their large storage jars.