Garcia, Tina

Tina Garcia was born in 1957. Her mother, Lydia Tafoya, was from Santa Clara Pueblo while her father, Santiago Garcia, was from Ohkay Owingeh. In the Puebloan way, Tina was raised among her mother’s family at Santa Clara Pueblo. There she learned to make pottery through watching her mother, her grandmother (Severa Tafoya) and her aunt (Angela Baca) make their trademark blackware.

Tina began producing pottery herself at the age of 11 and by the age of 23 she was a full-time potter.

After studying the collections at the School for American Research in Santa Fe she decided to make mostly traditional, classic shapes without the carving so prevalent among contemporary Santa Clara pottery. Most of Tina’s work is undecorated but she did occasionally use a bear paw imprint, one of the symbols of Santa Clara Pueblo. Tina is known for her finely polished red and black large, classic jars, water jars and for her bowls.

Tina’s work has been shown in many venues and exhibitions, from New York to Pittsburgh to Santa Fe and Phoenix. She earned numerous First and Second Place ribbons at the Santa Fe Indian Market and at the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts show.

Tina’s sister, Virginia Garcia, and her brother, Greg Garcia, are also award-earning potters. Tina passed on in 2005.