Maxine Toya

Jemez Pueblo

Maxine Toya at work
Maxine Toya

Maxine was born in April 1948, into a prominent family of potters on Jemez Pueblo: grandmother Persingula Gachupin, mother Marie G. Romero and sister Laura Gachupin. Later came daughters Dominique and Camilla Toya, all of whom were and are respected, prize-earning artists.

Marie learned from some of the best potters in Jemez Pueblo and began producing pottery herself in 1971. In addition to being an award-earning potter, Maxine has also had a distinguished career as an educator in the Jemez Pueblo school system.

Her repertoire as an artist includes matte, polychrome and polished redware storytellers, nacimientos (nativity scenes), Corn Maidens, clay sculptures, figures, miniature kivas and owls, plus textiles, prints, paintings and writings.

She signs her pottery as: "Maxine Toya, Jemez", followed by the corn symbol to denote her Corn clan heritage.


Red micaceous slip on a polychrome nacimiento
Polychrome nacimiento with ten figures with a red micaceous slip
8.5 in H by 5.5 in Dia
Measurement of Mary and Joseph figures
Nativity scene with two figures
Polychrome nacimiento with two figures
 
Seven pieces in a nativity set
Nativity set with seven pieces
8.75 in H by 7.75 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
Two pieces in a nativity set
Nativity set with two pieces
8 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
Two pieces in a nativity set
Nativity set with two pieces
7 in H by 3 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
Two piece polychrome nativity set
Polychrome two-piece nativity set
7.5 in H by 3 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
Two piece polychrome nativity set
Polychrome two-piece nativity set
7.5 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
2 piece polychrome nativity set
Polychrome 2-piece nativity set
7.75 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
Jemez owl figure
Polychrome Jemez owl figure
6.75 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Ladder and 2 koshares on a kiva
Kiva with 2 koshares and a ladder
7.5 in H by 9.25 in Dia
A 2-piece nativity set Polychrome two-piece nativity set
7.75 in H by 3.75 in Dia
Measurement of largest piece
Miniature polychrome owl figure Miniature polychrome owl figure
2.25 in H by 1.5 in Dia
7 pieces in a nativity set
A seven piece nativity set
7.5 in Dia by 9.25 in H
Measurement of largest piece

Jemez Pueblo Potters