Gwen Tafoya

Santa Clara Pueblo

Gwen Tafoya is a potter from Santa Clara Pueblo. She was born into a well-known family of Santa Clara potters in 1965. Her mother, Mary Ann Tafoya, saw Gwen's interest early in life and taught her enough that Gwen began experimenting on her own when she was about 6. At first she was just hand-coiling small bowls, then jars, then much larger vessels by the time she was 16. After that she began learning sgraffito...

Gwen produces redware and blackware with detailed sgraffito and carving work. Her favorite shape to make is the seed pot, her favorite designs: hummingbirds and flowers. She has earned awards at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Show and at the New Mexico State Fair. She signs her work: "Gwen Tafoya SCP".