Maxine Gachupin Toya, Jemez Pueblo Potter

Maxine Gachupin Toya (1948- ), Jemez Pueblo, comes from a prolific pottery-making family. Her grandmother, Persingula Gachupin (ca.1910-1994), was highly respected as an outstanding potter, as was her mother, Marie G. Romero (1927-2007), and her sister, Laura Gachupin (b 1954).

“Maxine began her formal education at Jemez Village Day School. She was fortunate to study under Natachee Scott and N. Scott Momaday, the noted Pulitzer Prize-winning author.  The young Jemez student excelled and continued through a successful college career.  She then became an elementary school teacher.  Maxine is a prominent educator.  She has touched the lives of many Jemez children, introducing several to pottery making.

“Maxine advanced as a top award-winning artist.  She exhibited widely and was well received.  She is talented in many forms of art.  She is particularly adept at modeling native clay figures and painting them with colorful slips.” Schaaf, 2002.

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

TAGS: Jemez Pueblo, Persingula Gachupin, Marie G. Romero, Southwest Indian Pottery