Bird with Etched Design
by Jennifer Tafoya, Santa Clara Pueblo
hand etched clay, pigment
1 3/4” high x 3 1/2” long x 1 3/8” deep
Santa Clara Pueblo artist Jennifer Tafoya is the daughter of potter Ray Tafoya. Jennifer uses the traditional hand-coiled pottery methods, then shapes, polishes, and traditionally fires before applying the sgraffito technique of scratching away the surface layer to reveal a contrasting color underneath. She then paints natural ore colors and slips into her designs. Jennifer collects and processes all of her pottery materials from natural sources.
The use of realism in Jennifer’s imagery has revitalized the style of sgraffito pottery originated by renowned Santa Clara potter Joseph Lonewolf (1932-2014) in the 1970’s. Jennifer is featured in books such as “Talking with the Clay,” “Crafted to Perfection,” and “Breaking the Mold,” and featured in articles in “Native Peoples Magazine” and “Southwest Art Magazine.”
Jennifer has won numerous awards for her pottery including “Best of Pottery” for a collaborative jar at the 2013 Heard Indian Market Guild and the prestigious “Best of Show” in 2023 at Santa Fe Indian Market.
