Joseph Lonewolf—son of prominent potters Camilio and Agapita Tafoya and the brother of Grace Medicine Flower—revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery in the early 1970s by incorporating his sgraffito and incised designs in his work. This November, King Galleries in Santa Fe will host a solo exhibition titled Joseph Lonewolf: Pottery Jewels 1970-2000 showcasing nearly 50 pieces by Lonewolf (1932-2014) spanning three decades.
Avanyu and Sun jar, 1991/2000, 8” (with lid)
Black-and-red pottery, 1972-3, native clay
Sgraffito, meaning “to scratch,” refers to the practice of lightly etching the surface of the clay, resulting in beautiful, often astoundingly ornate designs upon the vessels. Incised designs, on the other hand, cut deeper into the clay, almost to the point of carving. Lonewolf employed both techniques in his work, a blend of dynamic, tactile and multi-textured pottery, depicting traditional Native stories, symbols and other imagery—even mythology from other cultures. In many circles, Lonewolf is considered one of the great masters of the technique of sgraffito pottery. His 1991/2000 piece Avanyu and Sun, for instance, depicts the water serpent deity Avanyu, an important figure within the pueblo tribes of Arizona and New Mexico.
Wings of Beauty, 1974/5, 12” (with lid)
“This show is a rare opportunity to see a depth and range of pottery by Joseph Lonewolf. There are miniatures under half an inch to large vessels featured in his 1976 book The Pottery Jewels of Joseph Lonewolf,” says King Galleries owner Charles S. King. “Many of the larger pieces took him years to finish. The imagery ranges from Mimbres inspired figures to realism of animals around the world and even Greek mythology. Nothing was ‘off limits’ to his imagination.”
Eternity Bowl II, 1970, native clay, 7”
Joseph Lonewolf, The Call (left) 1995, and Myriad, 1991/96, 3” each
Joseph Lonewolf: Pottery Jewels 1970-2000 opens on November 4 with an opening reception that afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. The exhibition will remain on view through November 18.
King Galleries
November 4-18, 2023
130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(480) 440-3912, www.kinggalleries.com
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