InspirationEmergenceArtistryLegacy
 

Family Matters

Maria Martinez's name has become synonymous with Pueblo pottery. In making art that was accessible and popular in the non-Native community, she quite literally associated her name with Indian art. In the modern Indian art market, the Martinez name is an asset that extends far beyond the work of the woman who made it famous.

Many of today's contemporary Pueblo potters can trace their inspiration—if not their lineage—to Maria Martinez. As mother, grandmother, and aunt, she passed along her knowledge and skill in pottery making to the generations that succeeded her. Among the descendants of Maria Martinez are counted many great potters who continue to innovate and redefine tradition.

Museum of New Mexico