Angela Baca

Angela Tafoya Baca (1927 – 2014) was a Native American artist who was known for her redware and blackware pottery, especially melon bowls and bowls featuring a bear paw design. She had one of the longest careers of the potters in Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico. She was a member of the Tewa and a resident of Santa Clara Pueblo.

Personal life

Born on November 6, 1927, Angela Tafoya Baca was the daughter of Severa and Cleto Tafoya. which was owned and managed by her nephew Paul Speckled Rock.

Angela married Jose Antonio "Tony" Baca, who served as private first class in the United States Army during World War II. He worked for the Zia Company (later Johnson Controls), which provided support services to Los Alamos National Laboratory at Los Alamos, New Mexico. The couple had 10 children, four of whom (David, Darryl, Leona, and Alvin) became noted Santa Clara Pueblo potters. Angela Baca died on February 16, 2014. son David "Yellow Mountain" Baca is known for his squash design melon bowls and melon seed pots; daughter Leona Baca primarily makes miniature versions of melon bowls.

Awards

Exhibitions

Additional exhibitions: Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona; National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.; Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Santa Fe, New Mexico.