Leonida Tapia

Career

Leonidas made traditional San Juan polychrome redware bowls, jars and wedding vases. She also made micaceous pottery. Some of the designs she used on her pottery include the water serpent, kiva steps and clouds.

Leonidas participated in the Santa Fe Indian Market from 1970-1976.

Leonida’s son, Tom Tapia, learned to make pottery by working with his mother. Leonida’s daughter, Mary Trujillo, married Helen Cordero’s son, Leonard, from Cochiti Pueblo.

Achievements

• He works in the sgraffito style and has won numerous awards for his pottery. She learned to make storyteller figures from her mother-in-law Helen who was the first and most famous maker of Cochiti storytellers and has won numerous awards.