St. Olaf College

Elmer (Elk) Red Starr

ceramics
United States
b. 1937
View objects by this artist.

Red Starr was born Elmer Red Star in 1937 in the Sioux Nation in South Dakota.  He played football at the University of Minnesota on a scholarship, where he was put on the roster as “Red Starr.”  Several years later, he changed his name to Red Starr.  

Later on, Red Starr married Harriet Trafoya, who taught him how to make pottery alongside her mother-in-law.  

George Arbanas, ‘20
November 2019

Sources

“Red Starr.” Cameron Trading Post, https://www.camerontradingpost.com/redstarr.
“Red Starr Pottery: The Hunt.” Fine Pueblo Pottery, http://www.finepueblopottery.com/1733.htm.
“Red Starr, Elmer Archives - King Galleries.” King Galleries - Exceptional Pueblo Pottery & Native Art, https://kinggalleries.com/brand/red-starr-elmer/.