Tafoya, Shirley

Shirley Cactus Blossom Tafoya was born into Santa Clara Pueblo in 1947. She was the daughter of Margaret Tafoya and Alcario Tafoya, granddaughter of Sara Fina Tafoya and Geronimo Tafoya.

Shirley was a bit of a wild child but she was an excellent potter. When Walt Youngblood decided he wasn’t going to support his daughter Nancy any more, Shirley took her in. Nancy referred to her as “Aunt Berda” and the two of them sometimes prowled around the Santa Fe Plaza selling miniature black pots they’d made for $20-$25 each. Shirley was known for her carved blackware bowls and jars and for her polished blackware wedding vases.

Shirley’s work was featured in the 1974 Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery exhibit at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She was also a participant in the One Space/Three Visions major tri-cultural exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum in 1979.

Toward the end of her mother’s life, Shirley and Margaret were almost inseparable.

Some Awards Shirley earned

  • 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place for a miniature vase
    – First Place for a miscellaneous miniature;
    – Third Place for a jar less than 7 inches tall
  • 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market, Miniature Pottery Award
    – First Place for a miniature vase;
    – Second Place for a miscellaneous miniature;
    – Second Place for a carved bowl
  • 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place for an undecorated wedding vase
  • 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award for a miscellaneous piece
  • 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place for a miscellaneous miniature
    – Second Place for a miniature jar;
    – Second Place for a miniature vase
  • 1988 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place for a vase (including wedding vase)
    – Second Place for a jar
  • 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place for a non-traditional form
  • 1984 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place for a bowl;
    – Second Place for a miscellaneous miniature
  • 1981 Santa Fe Indian Market, Second Place award
  • 1980 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award
  • 1979 Santa Fe Indian market, Third Place award for a miniature brown jar
  • 1978 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award for a miniature pot
  • 1977 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award for a water jar;
    – Second Place award for a carved black jar
  • 1976 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award for a black melon bowl
  • 1975 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award for an undecorated bowl
  • 1974 Santa Fe Indian Market, First Place award
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