Legoria Tafoya

Santa Clara potter Legoria Tafoya was born in 1911. She is the eldest daughter of Herman and Marianita Velarde and the sister of Pablita Velarde. She attended St. Catherine’s Indian School in Santa Fe and married Pasqual Tafoya after finishing. Tafoya learned pottery making from her grandmother in the 1930s and began selling her pottery to supplement the family’s income. Tafoya originally began making animal figurines based on Tewa mythology, such as lions, bears, birds and turtles, before making carved blackware. She taught her daughter, Celes Tafoya, and they collaborated for many years. Legoria Tafoya died in 1984. Her work is in collection around the world.