Andrew Padilla

Laguna Pueblo

Andrew Padilla

Andrew Padilla was born to Gladys Paquin and Andy Padilla in 1956. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay by his paternal grandmother, Reycita Padilla. She was from Santa Clara Pueblo and started teaching Andrew the fundamentals of pottery making when he was ten years old. She taught him how to make traditional black-on-black Santa Clara pottery. He was producing Santa Clara pottery until he moved to Laguna Pueblo in 1982.

At Laguna he began experimenting with white Laguna clay while working with his mother, Gladys Paquin. Gladys showed Andrew which mesas provided the best clay so he would only use the finest natural clays and pigments to make his pottery. She also taught him all her special techniques for working with that Laguna clay.

Andrew hand coiled many different sizes and shapes of pottery. He enjoyed making the white melon vessels and now and then accents with a kiva step lid for the crown. He combined his Santa Clara and Laguna backgrounds to create his own elegant contemporary style of art.

Andrew showed his work at the Santa Fe Indian Market and at the Heard Museum Market in Phoenix. He earned at least one Second Place ribbon from Santa Fe and a Best of Division ribbon from the Heard.

Andrew signed his pottery: Andrew Padilla, Laguna, N.M. Sadly, he passed on in August 2021, about eight months after his mother passed.