Dora Gachupin was born at Zia Pueblo in 1939 to parents Candelaria Medina of Zia and Tony Gachupin of Jemez. She married Johnnie "Tse-Pe" Gonzales of San Idelfonso when she was about 20 and contrary to the ancient tradition, moved to his home from Zia (the Pueblo people are generally matrilineal and home is usually where the wife's family resides). She had grown up learning the Zia pottery designs and shapes but at San Ildefonso, Dora was exposed to the highly polished redware and blackware that Rose Gonzales, her mother-in-law, made. "We didn't polish at Zia", Dora has said, "we used slips and plant and mineral paints." It was from Rose that she learned polishing and other San Ildefonso and San Juan styles and techniques. She said about Rose, "I love her work, and I love carving. And I love the water serpent. It depicts water - rain, thanksgiving and prayer for water. It's a San Ildefonso trademark. I like to make my serpent really simple and graceful. You'll notice that Santa Clara serpents look almost oriental, all the curves on the backs and all. Mine are very plain."

Other exceptional potters who have influenced Dora over the years include Popovi Da with his two-tone black and sienna ware and Tony Da with his use of stone inlay. Dora's work often includes turquoise or coral inlays on pots that also include combinations of black and sienna with micaceous slips. Her innovative style has sometimes been called "contemporary" and she often works with both polished clay and dull or micaceous clays in the same piece. However, she says she doesn't like that "contemporary" term and considers herself and her work to be traditional.

She earned many awards including Master Potter at Santa Fe Indian Market. Dora believes in quality not quantity and sees her art to be a gift from God. "It gives me pleasure to create beauty from the earth," she said.

Some Exhibits that featured Dora's work

• Choices and Change: American Indian Artists in the Southwest. Heard Museum North Scottsdale. Opened June 30, 2007
• Recent Acquisitions from the Herman and Claire Bloom Collection. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ January 11, 1997 - July 31, 1997
• Fifth Annual Hollywood Premiere. Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles, CA. Gallery 10. Scottsdale, AZ. November 23, 1991 - November 24, 1991
• Magic in Clay. Morrill Hall, University of Nebraska State Museum. Lincoln, NE. May 5, 1991 - August 30, 1991
• 1976 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibit. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. November 26 - December 5, 1976

Some Awards Dora Earned

• 2009 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market: Judge's Choice Award
• 2007 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Class. II - Pottery, Division B - Traditional, native clay, hand built, unpainted: First Place
• 2007 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Judge's Choice Award
• 1976 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibit, Classification X - Pottery, Division C - Figurines, bells, jewelry, miniatures, etc.: Second Place. Awarded for artwork: Miniature vase
• 1976 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibit, Classification X - Pottery, Division C - Figurines, bells, jewelry, miniatures, etc.: Honorable Mention. Awarded for artwork: Turtle with etched serpent