Jemez Pueblo

Camilla “Mia” Toya, member of the Corn Clan is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1974 and was given the Indian name of Rainbow Basket.

Mia was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of working with clay from many members of her family who are well known artisans. They taught Mia where to gather the best clays and other natural pigments, and construct her pottery using the ancient hand coiling methods of her ancestors.

Mia began working with clay at the age of 14 and continues to add her unique style of art to this day.
Mia specializes in contemporary styled hand coiled melon swirl pottery with butterfly lids.

She gathers her clay from within the grounds of the Jemez Pueblo. She grinds the clay, hand cleans the clay, hand mixes the clay, hand coils, shapes, cuts the lid portion of the pot while it is still damp. She sands each melon pot individually to get the roundness of the swirl in proportion with each other. Then, she hand shapes her butterflies and hand paints them using natural colors. Once her pottery dries she fires her pottery, outdoors.

Mia stated; “I love butterflies and have a strong passion for creating my own style of art.”

She signs her pottery as: Camilla Toya, Jemez Pueblo.

She is related to the following artists: Maxine Toya (mother), Damian Toya (brother), Marie Romero (grandmother), Laura Gachupin (aunt), and Gordon Foley (cousin).

Awards:
-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place
-1998 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place
-1993 Santa Fe Indian Market Young Potters Award
Publications:
-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies