Tony Da

Tony Da (pronounced “day”), born Anthony Edward Da in 1940 and known in San Ildefonso as Thun-Phoe-She (“Sun Dew”), (1940–2008), a renowned San Ildefonso Pueblo potter from New Mexico, is celebrated for his innovative fusion of traditional Native American pottery techniques with bold, intricate designs. As the grandson of legendary potters Maria and Julian Martinez, and the son of Popovi Da, Tony grew up immersed in a legacy of artistic excellence. He initially pursued painting, winning awards in his youth, but shifted to pottery in the mid-1960s under his grandmother Maria's guidance. His work revolutionized Pueblo ceramics by incorporating sgraffito (incised scratching into the clay surface), turquoise inlays, and motifs inspired by ancient Mimbres culture, heartline designs, and symbolic animals like deer and buffalo. These elements often carried spiritual significance, with the "heartline" motif—a curved line from the mouth to the heart—symbolizing life force and vitality in Pueblo art.

Tony's career was tragically shortened by a 1992 motorcycle accident that left him unable to continue pottery-making, leading him to return to painting until his death in 2008. His pieces are highly sought after by collectors, with auction prices for similar works reaching tens of thousands of dollars.