Tavo Silveira

Mata Ortiz

Octavio Tavo Silveira Sandoval grew up surrounded by the potters of Mata Ortiz. His father, Nicolas (Silveira) Ortiz, taught him the basics but then Tavo was off on his own. He learned everything he could along the way and has earned the Best in Show award at the Concurso Ceramica de Mata Ortiz several times.

Tavo's style of painting is different in that he incorporates elements of the Quezada and Porvenir styles. He often makes medium-size ollas and puts a red slip on them, usually leaving the rim area unslipped. He'll incise the rim area and then paint the main area with (usually) symmetrical designs that incorporate Paquimé and Mimbres symbology.

More recently, Tavo has been collaborating with his son, Jesus Octavio Silveira, and they have earned a string of major awards at the annual Concurso Ceramica de Mata Ortiz. To confuse matters a bit more, Tavo has a younger son named Octavio Silveira but he appears to work mainly on his own.