Ted was born in the Tewa village of Hano on the Hopi Mesas. He is the son of Hopi potter Garnet Pavatea, who demonstrated and exhibited at the Museum of Arizona from 1953 - 1981. Ted has had an interest in art since he was 6 years old, having his first one-man-show exhibiting paintings and drawings in Flagstaff when he was in 8th Grade. He continued his education at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, constantly working in the art field.
Ted has worked as an illustrator for projects ranging from Navajo Nation Family Planning, to a children's book for educational use, to a manual on campground services at Grand Canyon National Park. Ted became a full-time craftsperson in 1994, enjoying designing, painting, but most of all carving. From miniatures to larger dolls Ted is creating his own niche with his Kachina dolls.
Ted particularly enjoys doing the humorous dolls of his Tewa village such as the Koshare/Koyala. He also carves Navajo clowns with animals to capture the spirit and movement of the piece, with flair and detail. Their sensitivity and humor show his dedication to his art. Ted's versatility as a carver is shown by the variety of sizes that he works in and from miniatures 3" tall to stately pieces a foot high. He has been influenced by other carvers at Hopi, including Neil David.
In Ted's words, "As an artist I find it rewarding and educational knowing the effects of creativity in the air, and the feel for it. I get my inspiration from my mother, who said to me as a youth, 'make the most of your gifted talent, if you are not lazy you will find rewards in your hands.' I find this at times very true, since I get my biggest satisfaction out of creating. I find a lot of talent and competition in the art world, mainly among youth, which I think is super since I want to educate and lend my expertise to these young people. I still want to look upon young talent to carry on our tradition, to expose our hidden talents to the fullest, opening new techniques and artistry to the general public. I could go on, regarding the topic of art, since I think of myself as a self-made artist molded into one."