Joseph Lonewolf

Who is Joseph Lonewolf?

Joseph Lonewolf is a Native American potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States. He is known for his use of historical methods and his development of sgraffito and bas-relief techniques. The son of pottery artist and historical reconstructionist Camilio Sunflower Tafoya, Lonewolf was a precision mining equipment machinist until 1971, when a back injury forced him to retire.

His works, which have often been referred to as "pottery jewels", are notable for the use of Mimbres designs on sienna miniatures, and for the chemical treatment of various clays which produce different colors when kiln-fired.

Lonewolf's work was explored in a series on American Indian artists for the Public Broadcasting System. Other artists in the series included R. C. Gorman, Helen Hardin, Allan Houser, Charles Loloma, and Fritz Scholder.