Toya, Ben and Geraldine

Ben and Geraldine Toya are a husband-and-wife team of potters from Jemez Pueblo. Both were born around 1960 and were exposed to the pottery-making process early in life but neither got interested until about 1985. Then they threw themselves into it wholeheartedly.

They prefer to make fine line and polychrome jars, vases, wedding vases and bowls. They are noted for their fine line black-on-white vases and wedding vases with polychrome highlights.

The Toyas were awarded Best of Show in pottery at the New Mexico State Fair for eight consecutive years: 1998-2005. They have also been awarded First Place in 2004 and 2005 at the Jemez Red Rocks Memorial Art Show. Some of their work is a part of the permanent collection at the Albuquerque Sunport airport and in the City of Albuquerque Art program.

Ben and Geri were commissioned to create one of the large pots placed on the medians of I-40 in New Mexico. Their pot is located in Albuquerque on I-40 near the San Mateo exit.