About the Artist

(1915-2010) This prominent Santa Clara potter was the granddaughter of Serafina Tafoya, the daughter of Christina Naranjo. Cain's grandaughter is Tammy Garcia, another highly accomplished potter/ sculptor.

Mary Cain was still making pottery past the age of 90, the tradition she had learned from her mother back in the late 1920's.  Her early works contained the signature "Mary Tafoya", but is much more well-known as Mary Cain.  

Because she had been creating pottery for over 70 years, it should come as no surprise that her pots in collections all around the world, including the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American History. Her favorite designs were the water serpent, which is believed to bring good luck and the bear claw, which is sacred to her people because the imprint indicates the presence of water.