Phyllis M. Tafoya, b. 1953
“I started making pottery when I was about twelve, and I learned from my grandmother Christina Naranjo and grandmother Lucaria Tafoya. I first started making animals and bowls that had painted designs. The next step I took was making medium-size bowls that were carved. I hung in that area when I was in college. It was after college that I started on my own, my own direction. Now I’m working on traditional black wedding vases and traditional red bowls. I guess I could say I came from little pieces to big stuff. I’m more comfortable making large pots now. With my boyfriend, we make contemporary stuff. I make the bowl and he does the sgraffito design. I’m doing a lot of contemporary. . . they are traditional black and red but use sgraffito design. They are dance pieces with buffalo and deer dancers.”