Greg Garcia (1961 - 2010)

Greg Garcia claimedheritage to two Tewa Pueblos of New Mexico—Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh.  His mother was Lydia Tafoya of Santa Clara, daughter of Severa Tafoya.  His father was Santiago Garcia of Ohkay Owingeh.  Greg’s sisters were Tina Garcia and Virginia Garcia, both of whom are well-known potters.

Greg was inspired to become a potter by his grandmother, Severa Tafoya, who was the mother of five female potters of distinction.  He started working with the clay when he was only 14 years old.  He was taught to follow all traditional methods of pottery production—gathering and cleaning clay, processing clay and building with coils, stone polishing and outdoor firing.  He faithfully followed those traditions.