Virginia T. Romero

Virginia Trujillo Romero, or Pop Tő (September 1896–1998) was a Taos Pueblo potter and ceramicist from Taos, New Mexico.

Biography

Virginia Trujillo was born at Taos Pueblo in 1896. She grew up alongside her tribe until the early 1900s, when she was taken from her home to undergo a forced assimilation program at the Santa Fe Indian School. At the boarding school, she as with the other students were prevented from speaking their own language or practicing their cultural traditions. later developing more refined designs for the tourist trade. In addition to creating pottery, she designed and built adobe fireplaces, used for cooking or for firing pottery.

Later life and legacy Romero continued to make pottery until 1995 when she turned one hundred years old.

Collections Micaceous Clay Bowl with Firing Clouds (#31). Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff Collection of Western Artmat the Abbeville County Library System, Abbeville, SC. Buff-colored Bowl. Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois. Virginia T. Romero, Taos Pueblo bowl. Gorman Museum of Native American Art. Davis, California.