Cajero, Joe Jr

“My sculptures reflect the strength of our Pueblo traditions, with intimate details and expressions of joy, song and dance.”

Joe Cajero Jr. was born into Jemez Pueblo in 1970. His mother was Esther Cajero, his father Joe Cajero Sr. He learned how to make pottery from his mother as he was growing up. Later, at the Institute for American Indian Arts he learned more from his cousin and mentor, Felix Vigil.

Joe earned an Associate of Fine Arts degree at IAIA but he was earning ribbons for his pottery in juried competitions in the marketplace as a teenager. In 1993 he was awarded the Robert and Dorothy Walker Fellowship by the Southwest Association for Indian Arts. In 1996, at the age of 26, Joe was chosen to participate in the Indian Market Masters Show.

Joe branched into bronze sculptures and discovered the better he got with bronze, the better his pottery got. And vice versa. Joe is most known for his figures: storytellers, Koshare clowns, bears and other animals.

Joe’s wife Althea is of mixed Santo Domingo and Acoma heritage. She now works with him on almost everything he makes.

“The medicine of the Koshares stand for happiness. They talk all the anguish away and bless you with positive energy.”

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture declared Joe and Althea to be their 2014 Native Treasures Living Treasure.

Some of the Awards Joe has earned

• 2018: 21st Prescott Indian Art Market – Third Place, Sculpture Division
• 2017 Sharlot Hall Museum – 20th Prescott Indian Market, Judge’s choice Award in Bronze Sculpture
• 2017 Santa Fe Indian Market – Second Place Bronze Sculpture
• 2015 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair and Market, First Place, Bronze Division
• 2015 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Bronze Division
• 2015 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Collaborations Division – with Althea Cajero</li.
• 2013 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 2009 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market, First Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 2008 Ft. McDowell Indian Market, Best in Classification
• 2008 Ft. McDowell Indian Market, Best in Category
• 2008 Santa Fe Indian Market, Best in Division, Clay Sculpture
• 2008 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 2008 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 2008 Albuquerque Arts Business Association, Albuquerque Local Treasures Artist Award
• 2006 Sharlot Hall Museum Show Prescott, AZ, Judges Choice Award, Bronze Sculpture
• 2006 Santa Fe Indian Market, Best in Division, Clay Sculpture
• 2006 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 2006 Santa Fe Indian Market, Third Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 2005 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Bronze Sculpture under 36 in.
• 2004 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, Best in Division, Bronze Sculpture
• 2004 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, First Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 2004 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, Third Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 2002 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Bronze Sculpture under 36 in.
• 2002 The Philadelphia Craft Show, Best of Native American Exhibit
• 2002 New Mexico Indian Arts and Crafts Assoc., First Place in Sculpture
• 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Bronze Sculpture
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 1999 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture
• 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture
  1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture, Koshare Category
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Third Place, Clay Sculpture, Single Piece Category
• 1996 Southwest Indian Art Fair, Southwest Indian Art Award of Merit, Clay Sculpture
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture, Multiple Piece Category
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture, Single Piece Category
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture, Nativity Scene Category
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market, Katherine and Miguel Otero Award for Creative Excellence (in any category), Clay Sculpture
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture, Storyteller Category
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture, Koshare Category
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture
  1991 Indian Nations Rendezvous and Trade Fair, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place, Clay Sculpture
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Clay Sculpture
  1990 Gallup InterTribal Indian Ceremonial, Best in Category, Clay Sculpture
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market, Honorable Mention, Clay Sculpture
• 1988 Heard Museum Art Show, Special Achievement Award, Painting
• 1987 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Pen and Ink Drawing
• 1987 Eight Northern Pueblos Art Show, Third Place, Drawing
• 1987 Eight Northern Pueblos Art Show, Third Place, Watercolor
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place, Painting