Robert Tenorio, Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo vase

Robert Tenorio is part of the Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo) and has worked with clay since the age of 10. He learned the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery using ancient traditional methods from his family members, such as Lupe Tenorio. One of his inspirations in continuing the family tradition was his admiration for old pottery from his village. His career began in jewelry making. In 1968 he began studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where he was drawn to ceramics. He initially made his work for family and friends in his village, beginning with stoneware bowls. His technique is now very traditional; all his pieces are hand coiled and fired outdoors with cottonwood bark. He is known for creating some of the largest pieces produced by any pueblo potter. His work often features black, which comes from the Rocky Mountain bee plant, which he prefers because “it was [once] our people’s food”. He signs his potter as Robert Tenorio, followed by a small dipper star formation, and Kewa. He has received 1st place at both the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Eighth Northern Arts and Crafts Show. His publications include Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies, Talking With the Clay, Collections of Southwestern Pottery, Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni, Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery, and American Indian Pottery 2nd Edition.

**Sources: http://www.ancientnations.com/Gallery%20HTML/june_05/robert_tenorio_desert_sun.html