Stella Chavarria

Santa Clara Pueblo

Born into Santa Clara Pueblo in 1939, Stella Tafoya Chavarria is the daughter of Teresita Naranjo, granddaughter of Christina Naranjo and great-granddaughter of Serafina Tafoya.

Stella began making pottery around 1955 and earned her first award at the 1984 Santa Fe Indian Market: First Place for a jar up to 8" tall. That was only the first of many awards as Stella became famous for the quality of her blackware jars, bowls and wedding vases. She passed her knowledge and techniques for making pottery the traditional way on to her daughters, Denise Chavarria and Sunday Chavarria, and both have become well-known artists in their own right.

Feather and avanyu design carved into a polished black jar
Polished black jar carved with feather and avanyu design
5 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Feather and avanyu design carved into a tall neck black vase
Tall neck black vase carved with feather and avanyu design
5.75 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Feather and avanyu designs carved into a tall neck black jar
Long neck black vase carved with feather and avanyu
6 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Geometric designs carved into a small black jar
Small black jar decorated with carved geometric designs
4.25 in H by 3.75 in Dia
Avanyu design carved into a red jar
Red jar carved with an avanyu design
3.75 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Geometric design carved into a black jar
Black jar carved with a geometric design
2.75 in H by 4 in Dia
Avanyu design carved into a black jar
Black jar carved with an avanyu design
3 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Geometric design carved into a black jar
Black jar decorated with a carved geometric design
4.5 in H by 4 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a red jar
Red jar carved with an avanyu design
4 in H by 3.75 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a black jar
Black jar decorated with a carved avanyu design
5.25 in H by 4.25 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a black jar
Black jar carved with an avanyu design
4 in H by 5.25 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a black jar
Black jar carved with an avanyu design
6 in H by 4.5 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a black jar Black jar carved with an avanyu design
3.75 in H by 4.25 in Dia
A geometric design carved into a miniature black jar Miniature black jar decorated with a carved geometric design
2.25 in H by 2.5 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a black jar below a band of carved feathers
Black jar carved with an avanyu design and a band of feathers
6 in H by 4.5 in Dia
An avanyu design carved into a black jar
Black jar carved with an avanyu design
3.75 in H by 4.25 in Dia

Santa Clara Pueblo Potters