Toya, Judy

Judy Toya was born to Mary E. Toya and Casimiro Toya at Jemez Pueblo in 1953. She told us she learned the art of traditional pottery making from her well-known mother as she was growing up. Judy has been creating storytellers and nativity sets since 1972.

Almost everyone in Judy’s family makes pottery. They all share techniques and clay sources with each other. Among the well-known artists she is related to are Mary Ellen Toya, Anita Toya, Henrietta Toya Gachupin, Yolanda Toya Toledo and Melinda Toya Fragua. Her family has been featured in Native Peoples Magazine and Albuquerque Arts Magazine.

Over the years Judy participated in juried shows at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the Southwest Indian Art Fair in Tucson and the Santa Fe Indian Market. She earned a First Place ribbon from the Santa Fe Indian Market for a nativity set and a Third Place ribbon for one of her storyteller figures.

Judy told us her favorite pieces to make were grandfather storytellers. She had many fond memories of her grandfather singing her stories of her people’s past, in their native Towa, when she was just a child.

She also said she got her inspiration from the clay: when she put her hands in it, it spoke to her of shapes to make and designs to paint.

Judy passed her pottery-making knowledge on to her daughters, Myra Toya and Vernida Toya, and her granddaughter, Sharela Waquie. She hoped they will help the Jemez pottery tradition continue to grow and flourish.

Judy passed on in early 2023.