Nathan Youngblood

Nathan Youngblood (born 1954) is a world-renowned contemporary potter from Santa Clara Pueblo and a prominent member of the legendary Tafoya family. He is the grandson of the iconic Margaret Tafoya and the son of Mela Youngblood. His early work quickly earned recognition, taking home First and Second Prizes at the 1970 Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial. In 1976, he decided to pursue pottery full-time, formally apprenticing with his grandparents to learn the rigorous, ancestral methods of clay gathering, carving, and polishing.

Initially, Nathan’s work closely resembled his grandmother’s classic style. However, in the 1980s, he began experimenting with new shapes and expansive, complex designs. By the 1990s, he was incorporating Asian influences into his pieces, an innovative shift that inspired other artists to blend cultural elements with personal experiences. Following Margaret Tafoya’s passing in 2001, Nathan revisited traditional Pueblo forms while applying sharp, contemporary updates to his designs.

Over his prolific career, he has earned over 140 ribbons for his exacting geometric precision and flawless polish. Beyond his art, Nathan has deeply contributed to his community by serving on the boards of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial and the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, and by lecturing on Native arts at prestigious institutions like the Denver Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American Art.