Garcia was taught by Carl Luthe. A jeweler from Santo Domingo pueblo, Garcia exhibited at Santa Fe's Indian Market as well as at Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Arts & Crafts Show.
Garcia is cited in Gregory Schaaf's book American Indian Jewelry Book I 1,200 Artist Biographies together with a photograph of one of his nugget and silver leaf rings.
Also known as John Paul Garcia, he used just JP when first producing jewelry in 1978.