Margaret Tafoya

Margaret Tafoya, born Maria Margerita Tafoya on August 13, 1904, was a renowned potter from Santa Clara Pueblo and a key figure in its pottery tradition. She learned the craft from her mother, Serafina Tafoya, a master potter who introduced Maria Martinez to key techniques, including turning clay black by smothering the fire with manure. While Serafina’s pots were often utilitarian and plain, Margaret’s work evolved to include larger, intricately carved pots with decorative designs.

Margaret married Alcario Tafoya in 1924, and together they ran a successful pottery business. Alcario helped with clay preparation and firing, while Margaret focused on building, polishing, and carving the pots, often teaching others in the community.

Over the years, Margaret developed distinctive pottery styles, including the bear paw imprint, the incised kiva step, and the carved avanyu (water serpent). By the 1960s, her work had gained worldwide recognition, earning her multiple awards, including Best of Show at the Santa Fe Indian Markets in 1978 and 1979. Margaret raised thirteen children and many grandchildren, passing on her pottery legacy. She passed away in 2001, leaving behind a thriving tradition carried on by her descendants, including her great-grandson, Ryan Roller, a seventh-generation potter.