Joseph Lonewolf

Born 1932

Santa Clara (New Mexico)

Medium: Pottery

Joseph Lonewolf was born and raised on Santa Clara Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. He is the son of noted potters, Camilio Sunflower Tafoya and Agapita Silva, whom he learned the many techniques from. He did not begin his career in pottery making until he turned 39 when he returned to Santa Clara Pueblo from Colorado. He is known as the innovator of two-tone pottery (black and red), which he has developed a technique to achieve this look in a single firing.

He is highly inspired by the Mimbres people and frequently uses similar motifs and design patterns in his work.