American  (1962 - )

Linda Tafoya is the granddaughter of Santa Clara Pueblo pottery matriarch Margaret Tafoya and the daughter of Lee and Betty Tafoya.  She began making pottery at age 12, with her father teaching her to make the vessels and carve the designs and her mother teaching her how to sand and carve the vessels.  She learned how to manipulate the firing process to create a deep, black color and used family heirloom stones to perfect the polishing effect.  Although she has received many accolades, Linda is most proud of the praise she once received from her renowned potter grandmother Margaret Tafoya: "You do good pots."