Erik Fender

San Ildefonso Pueblo

Erik Fender
Erik Fender

Born in 1970, Erik Fender (Than Tsidih - Sun Bird) is the son of Martha Appleleaf. He began working with clay at the age of 10, inspired by his mother and his grandmother, Carmelita Dunlap. At the age of 17 he earned an award in a Congressional Art competition as part of his exploration of color. That exploration has led to experimentation with different clays and techniques to produce new colors on his pottery. At 22 he apprenticed himself to his mother to learn the traditional styles and designs of San Ildefonso pottery.

Over the years he has earned numerous awards at the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Show and at the Santa Fe Indian Market. Lately he has been working to reproduce traditional San Ildefonso polychrome ware as the technique was nearly lost to San Ildefonso following the development of black-on-black pottery.


Green slip geometric design on a black bird effigy jar
Black bird effigy jar with green slip geometric design
4.75 in H by 10.5 in Dia
Avanyu and geometric design on a black on black jar
Black on black jar decorated with an avanyu and geometric design
13.75 in H by 12.5 in Dia
A micaceous slip around the bottom of this green on black jar with a feather and geometric design
Green on black jar decorated with a feather and geometric design plus a micaceous slip around the bottom
10 in H by 7.25 in Dia

San Ildefonso Pueblo Potters