Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Pottery by Greg Garcia with bear claws

Late 20th Century
3.5x4.25w
From a Private Colorado Collection
Excellent Condition

Greg Garcia was a talented traditional potter from Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, bridging the artistic legacies of both Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) through his mixed heritage. 

 Born in 1961, he was the son of Lydia Tafoya from Santa Clara Pueblo and Santiago Garcia from Ohkay Owingeh, making him a full-blooded Native American artist with deep roots in Tewa traditions. 

 At the age of 14, Greg began learning the craft under the guidance of his maternal grandmother, Severa Tafoya, a revered Santa Clara potter, who taught him the fundamentals of traditional pottery-making. 

 He grew up alongside his sisters, fellow potters Tina Garcia (d. 2005) and Virginia Garcia (b. 1963), and was also the nephew of acclaimed potter Angela Baca, fostering a family environment rich in ceramic artistry. 

Greg adhered strictly to ancestral techniques, gathering clay from sacred Santa Clara lands, hand-cleaning and mixing it, coiling vessels by hand, stone-polishing for a glossy sheen, and firing outdoors with horse manure to achieve the iconic black finish. 

 His work often featured polished black jars, bowls, and double-shouldered forms with traditional motifs like bear paw impressions, reflecting the evolution from utilitarian wares to fine art while honoring his forebears. 

 He occasionally collaborated with his sister Tina on pieces, and his pottery earned recognition at events like the Santa Fe Indian Market and Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts show. 

 Greg signed his works "Greg Garcia, San Juan/Santa Clara," emphasizing his dual Pueblo heritage. 

 He passed away in 2010, leaving a legacy of meticulously crafted pieces that connect modern viewers to ancient Tewa traditions through his family's enduring influence in Pueblo pottery.