Naranjo, Johnathan

Santa Clara Pueblo potter Johnathan Naranjo
Johnathan Naranjo, born into Santa Clara Pueblo in July, 1987, is the son of Karen Price and grandson of Bernice Naranjo. Other well-known potters in the family include Dusty Naranjo and Caroline Elliot. While he began learning how to make pottery as a child with his grandmother, it is really only since finishing high school that his work has evolved into his distinctive style.

Each of Johnathan’s pieces are hand-coiled and stone polished. The overall coloration is attained during the firing: each piece is taken out of the fire-smothering manure early so it remains a darker brown and doesn’t turn totally black. He then incises his designs into the clay, controlling the various colorations of the tan and red by carefully controlling the depth of each incision.

Johnathan has participated in shows at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, the American Indian Arts Marketplace at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, the Haskell Indian Art Market in Lawrence, Kansas and the Santa Fe Indian Market.

In 2013 Johnathan earned the Tony Da award at the Santa Fe Indian Market for his innovative and intricate style of pottery. He has also earned the Legacy Award in Santa Fe and in 2014 he earned the First Place ribbon for Contemporary Pottery.

Johnathan tells us his favorite shapes to make are pottery sculptures. His favorite designs are sourced from his tribal influences: Santa Clara, Taos and Dineh. As much as he obviously enjoys making his pottery, he is also an avid fisherman, hiker, basketball player (and fan), artist, traveler and long distance runner.

Some Awards earned by Johnathan

  • 2023 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II-C, Category 704 – Incised or carved, any form, First Place
  • 2023 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II-F, Category 1001 – Traditional, Honorable Mention
  • 2019 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division C – Traditional burnished black or red ware, incised, painted or carved, Category 701 – Carved or incised, black or red, under 8″: First Place
  • 2019 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Contemporary pottery, any form or design, using Native materials with or without added decorative elements, traditional firing techniques, Category 801 – Sgraffitto, any form: Honorable Mention
  • 2016 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division B – Traditional, native clay, hand built, unpainted including ribbed: Second Place
  • 2015 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division C – Traditional – native clay, hand built, carved: Second Place. Awarded for artwork: “Birds of Spring” bottle
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