Tammy Garcia, Santa Clara Pueblo Potter

The Innovative Art of Tammy Garcia

Tammy Garcia (b. 1969) is widely celebrated as one of today's foremost Native American artists. While she was born into the rich, time-honored traditions of Santa Clara Pueblo pottery-the granddaughter of Mary Cain and great-niece of Margaret Tafoya-Garcia has consistently pushed the boundaries of her art.

Her innovative, contemporary approach has led her to expand beyond native clay into other mediums, including bronze and glass. Garcia, who now resides in Taos, New Mexico, is an incredibly talented potter and sculptor. Early in her career, she signed her work as Tammy Borts.

Coming from a large family of artists, including Sara Fina Tafoya, Christina Naranjo, and Linda Cain, Garcia has exhibited her work widely and received numerous notable accolades. Her pieces are included in many major museum collections, and she was the subject of a one-woman exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a testament to her groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art.

Reference: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Mary Cain, Margaret Tafoya, Contemporary Pottery, Linda Cain, Autumn Borts-Medlock, Christina Naranjo