Tafoya, Helen

Born into Jemez Pueblo in June 1961, Helen Tafoya is the daughter of David and Vangie Tafoya, sister of Brenda Tafoya and Tyron Tafoya. Her great-grandmother was Maria Sanchez of San Ildefonso Pueblo. Maria was a cousin of the famous Maria Martinez but she married Juan Pedro Colaque of Jemez Pueblo and moved to his home there. At Jemez she participated in an early attempt at reviving the Jemez pottery tradition.

Vangie learned how to make pottery through watching and working with her grandmother as she was growing up. Helen learned the same way, growing up with Vangie. It was an open learning system, one in which Vangie encouraged Helen to develop her own skills, styles and designs. Helen went on to become an award-earning artist in her own right and her work has traveled all over the world.

Helen produces mostly polychrome and sgraffito jars and bowls. Among her favorite designs are lizards and cloud patterns but she has a particular love for hummingbirds, and it shows in her sgraffito designs. She often likes to inlay a piece of turquoise or mother-of-pearl, onyx or coral as a hummingbird’s eye. Helen also has a full-time day job with the Creative Team making art materials for the Towa Language Immersion programs at Jemez Pueblo.

Helen was a long-time participant in the Santa Fe Indian Market, New Mexico State Fair, Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show and the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonial, earning First, Second and Third Place ribbons at all of them.