Silveira, Goyin

Goyin Silveira was born in 1978. He grew up surrounded by working potters in the village of Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico, which means he’s been immersed in one of the world’s most prolific and innovative pottery traditions. His parents, Goyo Silveira and Gloria Hernandez, are both well-known potters and they have told us they encouraged Goyin to begin playing with clay at an early age. Goyin began producing pottery when he was about 20 and hasn’t looked back since. He married fellow Mata Ortiz potter Graciela Martinez and they have two children.

Both Goyin and Graciela produce beautiful polychrome jars, usually decorated with very fine medallion and geometric designs. Goyin also sometimes adds designs based on his interpretations of ancient Mimbres-Mogollon designs that he’s found while hiking around in the vicinity of his home near the prehistoric ruins of Paquimé.

Goyin has participated in shows at the Southwest Indian Art Fair in Tucson, the San Diego Museum of Man, the American Indian Arts Marketplace at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, the Woodland Indian Art Show & Market in Green Bay, Wisconsin and the Concurso de Ceramica in Mata Ortiz. Over the years he has earned many First Place awards for his whiteware and redware pots, usually decorated with multi-color designs.

Goyin tells us his favorite shapes to create are jars and vases and he likes decorating them with geometric designs. As much as he enjoys making his pottery, you’ll also often find him preparing for the roping competitions at local rodeos in northern Mexico.