Toledo, Verda

Verda Toledo was born into the Dineh Nation in June 1941. She married into Jemez Pueblo and moved to her husband’s home there.

She didn’t begin making pottery until the early 1990s when she asked Thomas Tenorio of Santo Domingo Pueblo to teach her. He taught her the techniques, methods and designs he knew: completely matte surfaces on plates and bowls. It made for an unusual variation in the world of Jemez pottery.

Verda exhibited her work for years at shows like the Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Guild & Indian Art Fair, Pueblo Grande Show and others. Her work is known for her bold paintings of Mimbres and geometric designs in Jemez colors.

Verda signs most of her pieces: “V.J.T. Jemez”.