Naranjo, Robert

There are two potters from Santa Clara Pueblo named Robert Naranjo. They also both signed their pottery Robert Naranjo. One is Robert T. Naranjo, the other Robert G. Naranjo.

Robert T. Naranjo

Robert T. Naranjo, born in 1957, married Betty Naranjo, the daughter of Elizabeth Naranjo. It seems he mostly makes figurative pottery.

Some Awards that Robert Earned

• 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery using traditional materials and techniques with non-traditional decorative elements, Category 1507 – Sgrafitto: Third Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 2003 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery using traditional materials and techniques with non-traditional decorative elements, Category 1507 – Sgrafitto: Third Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, any form or design, using traditional materials and non-traditional techniques, Category 1504 – Sets & scenes (includes nativity scene): First Place shared with Betty and Beth Naranjo
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1511 – Sets & scenes (nativity scenes): First Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials or techniques, Category 1408 – Figures (sets of 2 or more pieces): Third Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1511 – Sets & scenes (nativity scenes): First Place
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division C – Traditional pottery, carved or incised in the style of San Juan, San Ildefonso, other tribal styles, Category 1007 – Figures: Third Place
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1511 – Sets & scenes (nativity scenes): First Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface, Category 1105 – Figures, including nativity: Third Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1509 – Single Figures, animal and other: Third Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1511 – Sets & scenes (nativity scenes): Second Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1501 – Sgraffito style w/o stones black or black two tone: Third Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1606 – Single figures (animal & others): Third Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1607 – Sets & scenes (nativities & kiva scenes): Second Place shared with Betty Naranjo
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-Traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1611 – Sgraffito, w/stone or metal: Second Place
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1507 – Figures (sets of two or more pieces), Second Place
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials & techniques, Category 1602 – Jars & vases, painted, Second Place
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1607 – Sets & scenes (nativities & kiva scenes, etc.): First Place shared with Rose Pecos-Sun Rhodes
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division K – Pottery miniatures, 3″ or less in height or diameter, Category 1710 – Sgraffito, burnished black: Third Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division K – Pottery miniatures, 3″ or less in height or diameter, Category 1708 – Figures (burnished, painted or unpainted): Second Place
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1506 – Single Figures (sets of two or more pieces): First Place
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division H – Non-traditional pottery, new forms using traditional materials and techniques, Category 1406 – Single Figures (animal & other): Second Place
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division J – Non-traditional, any forms using non-traditional materials or techniques, Category 1407 – Sets & scenes (nativities & kiva scenes etc.): Second Place

Robert G. Naranjo

“Sometimes I’ll shape the clay the way I want, but it speaks to me. ‘Hey Robert, I want to be something else.'”

Robert G. Naranjo was the son of Juan and Mollie Naranjo. He was born in 1943 in Dulce, NM, on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. His father worked there for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. After Juan retired, the family returned to Santa Clara.

In 1961, when he was 18, Robert joined the US Army for four years. Then he re-enlisted for four more. When he was discharged, he drove oilfield trucks, then logging trucks for a while. He said he finally got tired of changing tire chains in the mud and quit.

That’s when his mother suggested he learn to make pottery. His mother and his aunt, Julia Martinez, then began to teach him. Soon he was sharing his booth at Santa Fe Indian Market with his aunt and selling his pieces alongside hers.

Some Awards Earned by Robert

• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Second Place
• 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Third Place
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: First Place
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Second Place
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Third Place
• 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Second Place
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: First Place
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Third Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface, Category 1102 – Bowls (up to 6″ in diameter): First Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division G – Non-traditional pottery, new forms. using traditional materials & techniques, Category 1401 – Sgraffito style without stones, black or black two tone: Second Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division E – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface (in the style of Santa Clara, San Ildefonso), Category 1207 – Miscellaneous: Second Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division K – Pottery miniatures, 3″ or less in height or diameter, Category 1712 -Sgraffito, all other: Second Place
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division E – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface (in the style of Santa Clara, San Ildefonso), Category 1202 – Bowls (up to 6″ in diameter): First Place
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional pottery, carved, Category 1106 -Figures: Third Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division E – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface (in the style of Santa Clara, San Ildefonso), Category 1206 -Figures: First Place
• 1991 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification VIII – Pottery, Division A – Traditional Construction & Firing Methods: Honorable Mention. Awarded for artwork “Seed Pot”
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional pottery, carved, Category 1008 – Miscellaneous, including canteens: Third Place
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division E – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface, Category 1103 – Bowls (up to 8 inches in diameter): Second Place
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional pottery, carved, Category 1003 – Bowls (up to 8 inches in diameter): Third Place
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division E – Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface, Category 1109 – Miscellaneous: Second Place