Juan Tafoya

Juan Tafoya, a skilled potter from San Ildefonso Pueblo, was born in 1949. He learned the craft from his mother, Donicia Tafoya, and began his own pottery career in 1970.

In the early stages of his work, Juan experimented with various firing methods to achieve a range of black and brown tones. He was one of the first potters from San Ildefonso to incorporate turquoise inlays into his pieces. Juan also mastered the sgraffito technique, carving into the surface of a fired piece to create textured, intricate backgrounds.

His style was influenced by the work of Popovi Da and Tony Da, and later expanded by artists like Dora Tse Pe and Tse-Pe. This distinctive style continues to be reflected in the pottery of Russell Sanchez today.