Mary Small

Mary Small (also known as Mary Toya Small, born 1940, passed away in 2024) was a renowned Native American potter from Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico. Her Towa name was “Kal-la-Tee,” meaning “New Indian Basket.” She belonged to the Sun Clan and learned traditional pottery-making from her mother, Perfectita Toya, in the classic "old way" using natural clays, slips, and firing methods. She was celebrated for her creative take on traditional Jemez Pueblo pottery, often incorporating a distinctive gray slip alongside terracotta bases, with designs in white, black, and other polychrome elements.