Cata, Sophie

Sophie (Velarde) Cata was born into Santa Clara Pueblo in August 1957. She was the daughter of Alfred Velarde and Frances Naranjo Salazar, granddaughter of Flora Naranjo. She learned to make pottery as she was growing up and was active in the marketplace as a teenager. Then she married Frank Cata and moved to his home at Ohkay Owingeh.

Sophie continued making Santa Clara-style carved pottery after the move. She usually made redware and blackware bowls and wedding vases. Her favorite designs to carve include bear paws, feathers, the avanyu (the mythic Tewa water serpent), kiva steps and clouds.