Artist Opening Reception: Jennifer Tafoya: Extinct

Jennifer Tafoya: Extinct
artist opening reception : Thursday, February 22, 6-9 pm

Reigning Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Show winner will be showing her new works at King Galleries in Scottsdale. Jennifer Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo) is a ceramic artist who was the 2023 Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Show Winner. Her exhibition of new work, Extinct will open at King Galleries in Scottsdale Thursday, February 22, 2024.

Tafoya has won numerous awards in the pottery division at events around the country, but in 2023 at the 101st annual Santa Fe Indian Market, she was awarded the prestigious Best of Show Award for her etched black pot featuring dinosaurs titled, Caught by Surprise.

Dinosaurs and extinct animals continue with her new body of work at King Galleries. This new show will Feature approximately ten new pieces done in her signature sgraffito style. However, Extinct will also feature a wide range of animals that are no longer with us, from dinosaurs to the present day.

“This show will be a variety of different extinct animals and not just from one genre,” says Jennifer. “Ice Age, modern animals, dinosaurs. There will be a little of everything. I feel my work is becoming more and more detailed and I’m enjoying focusing on even the smallest of details.”

Tafoya is the daughter of Santa Clara potters Ray and Emily Tafoya. Jennifer uses the Native clay and then hand-coils her pottery. They are then stone polished and traditionally fired. The designs are first lightly etched into the clay using her own modified rivet. They are then painted with natural clay slips. Jennifer collects and processes all of her pottery materials from natural sources.