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Mata Ortiz Ceramic Ware and Pots
As a youth, Juan Quezada roamed the plains, foothills, and mountains surrounding the railroad village of Mata Ortiz. In the high desert plains of northern Chihuahua, Mexico, Juan gathered honey and edible cactus to supplement his family's diet. He brought home firewood that his brothers sold door to door to supplement the family income. On his treks, Juan was fascinated by ancient pottery shards he found in prehistoric mounds. At age 13, Juan began his life-long quest to recreate the pottery and designs abandoned in the dust of the Casas Grandes Culture. This civilization flourished in the mid-thirteenth century in the nearby 400-acre city and major trade center called Paquimé.
With the ancient shards, pots, and intuition as his only teacher, Juan recreated the ceramic technology of the Casas Grandes Culture. Through 17 years of trial, error, and experimentation, Juan developed techniques that enabled him to consistently make beautifully sculpted, sound ollas. As a master potter, Juan generously shares his artistry with relatives and friends. Each artist is encouraged to explore his or her own self-expression with each unique creation.
Source: The Miracle of Mata Ortiz by Walter P. Parks
Alvaro Quezada
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Alvaro Quezada Olivas In Alvaro's ollas, his fine artistry and craftmanship speaks for itself. You'll find new statements of traditional styles and striking designs reflecting both the work of his father, Juan Quezada and that of his brother, Noe Quezada. (Click Here to see more of Alvaro Quezada's work below).
José Quezada
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José Quezada Talamontes created this unique pot or olla in the tradition of the Mata Ortiz potters. Using native clay, José constructs pots by hand without a potters' wheel. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by José's uncle, Juan Quezada. By age 18, José was making excellent pots in the style of his father, Nicolás Quezada Celado, who began creating ollas in 1972 under the tutelage of his brother, Juan.
As José learned the art of pot making, he used the difficult white clays and painted long curvilinear designs. He now experiments with his own exceptional shapes and natural pigments. José signed the bottom of this handsome eye-catching piece. This piece stands 8.75 inches tall, with a 19-inch circumference. José created this olla in 2006.
$550.00
Leonel Quezada
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Leonel "Chonel" Quezada Talamontes created this unique pot or olla in the tradition of the Mata Ortiz potters. He uses native clay and constructs pots by hand without using a potters' wheel. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by Leonel's uncle, Juan Quezada. At age 12, Leonel decided to become a potter like his father, Nicolás Quezada Celado, who began creating ollas in 1972 under the tutelage of his brother, Juan.
Leonel's work ranges from traditional designs on white clay to sporty, bold, metallic-looking pieces. With a steady hand, he paints with a brush he makes from a few strands of human hair. Leonel signed the bottom of this olla. This piece stands 8 inches tall, with a 26-inch circumference. Leonel created this olla in 2006.
SOLD
Sabino "Cabi" Villalba
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Sabino "Cabi" Villalba Hernández created this badger effigy in the style of the ancient potters of Paquimé. The Casas Grandes culture flourished 15 miles from the village of Mata Ortiz from 1000-1400 A.D. Cabi follows in the footsteps of his father Andres Villalba Pérez who died in 2001 and was legendary for faithfully rendering ancient Paquimç designs. Cabi has the reputation as the leading artist of the Casas Grandes style among Mata Ortiz potters. Cabi's artistry is considered as exquisite as his father's. Collectors world-wide seek out Cabi's pieces.
Cabi has been making pots for over 20 years. This signed piece stands 11 inches tall, with a 25-inch circumference. Cabi created this effigy in 2006.
SOLD
Tereza Veloz
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Tereza Veloz de Jaquez is a Mata Ortiz potter. She and her husband Socorro Jaquez primarily work with white clay. Note the coordinating olla ring. This elegant wedding vase stands 15 inches tall and has a 34-inch circumference. Tereza created this beautiful wedding olla in 2006.
$775.00
Jose L. Loya & Ana Peña
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Jose L. Loya and his wife Ana Peña created this finely crafted pot or olla with sweeping geometric and Mimbres designs. These Mata Ortiz master potters are noted for their hand-made smooth, ultra-thin, and wonderfully symmetrical ollas. This olla stands 11 inches tall and has a 31-inch circumference. Jose and Ana created this exquisite olla in 2006.
$625.00
Jesus Olivas Quintana
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Jesus Olivas Quintana creates vibrant pots or ollas in the carved or sgraffito style known as calcado in the village of Mata Ortiz. Jesus, his uncle Eduardo "Lalo" Quintana Rodríguez and his brother Martin Quintana are dramatically influencing the sgraffito school style. The lizards on this beautiful red, black, and white olla dance to music and life of their own. This exquisite signed olla stands 10.5 inches tall and has a 21-inch circumference. Jesus created this olla in 2006.
$950.00
Ricardo Delgado Cruz
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Ricardo Delgado Cruz is a Mata Ortiz potter who specializes in the sgraffito or carved style. His carefully crafted carved pots or ollas display animal and bird motifs. You can almost hear the birds on this piece singing among the branches. This remarkable signed piece stands 8.25 inches tall and has a 20-inch circumference. Ricardo created this olla in 2006.
SOLD
Eduardo Chevo Ortiz
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Eduardo "Chevo" Ortiz Estrada is well-known for his graphite blackware. He forms the ollas and his wife Hortencia Domínguez de Ortiz sands, polishes, and fills in Chevo's painted lines. Chevo's brothers Macario Ortiz and Nicolás Ortiz are also well known Mata Ortiz artists who learned their techniques from Felix Ortiz (a distant relative). As one of Juan Quezada's early students, Felix learned how to make ollas directly from the master potter who recreated the prehistoric Paquimé culture's ceramic technology. Not only considered the best three potters in Barrio Porvenir, Chevo and his brothers are members of Los Hermanos Ortiz band. Chevo plays the organ, accordion, and drums. This blackware technique was accidently discovered by Macario and Rubén Lozano c. 1982, when they discovered a shiny black graphite pencil mark on a fired pot. Chevo's signed olla stands 8.5 inches high and has a 24.5-inch circumference. Chevo created this elegant olla in 2007.
$425.00
Isídro Ortiz Chacón
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Mata Ortiz potter Isídro Ortiz Chacón makes pots or ollas in the Porvenir style. Like his uncles, Chevo, Nicolás, and Macario Ortiz, Isidro makes highly polished graphite blackware. His parents are the potting team of Bertha Chacón and Santos Ortiz. The bright colors on this olla are painted over black graphite. Isídro's olla stands 3.5 inches high and has a 14.5-inch circumference. Isídro created this signed olla in 2007.
$75.00
Juana Ledezma Veloz
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Juana Ledezma Veloz is a Mata Ortiz potter who creates beautiful seed pots or ollas. She primarily works with white clay. Her red and black geometric designs reflect the Ledezma family tradition. This signed piece stands 3.25 inches high and has a 16.5-inch circumference. Juana created this olla in 2007.
SOLD
Nancy Heras de Martinez
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Nancy Heras de Martinez is a Mata Ortiz potter who creates interesting effigies and exquisite square shoulder jars decorated with Mimbres-style designs. Her husband Luis Martinez, who studied under Héctor Gallegos, developed the square shoulder jar design and technique. Look for Nancy's signature rabbits on her works. This wonderfully interesting duck effigy is painted with Mimbres-style designs and stands 11 inches high and 24.5 inches wide. Nancy created this signed duck effigy in 2007.
SOLD
Nancy Heras de Martinez
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Nancy Heras de Martinez is a Mata Ortiz potter who creates interesting effigies and exquisite square shoulder jars decorated with Mimbres-style designs. Her husband Luis Martinez, who studied under Héctor Gallegos, developed the square shoulder jar design and technique. Look for Nancy's signature rabbits on her works. This beautiful orange square-shoulder jar with bulging circular areas painted with Mimbres-style designs stands 15 inches high and has a 31-inch circumference. Nancy created this signed jar in 2007.
$1425.00
Nena Quezada
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Maria Elena Quezada de Luján "Nena" created this checkerboard pot or olla in the tradition of Mata Ortiz potters. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by Nena's father, Juan Quezada. Nena started creating ollas and whimsical clay figures (monos) in the 1980s. She constructs ollas from native clays by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel. Nena's signed olla stands 5 inches high and has a 21-inch circumference. She created this olla in 2007.
$275.00
Sabino "Cabi" Villalba
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Sabino "Cabi" Villalba Hernández created this black widow plate in the style of the ancient potters of Paquimé. The Casas Grandes culture flourished 15 miles from the village of Mata Ortiz from 1000-1400 A.D. Cabi follows in the footsteps of his father Andres Villalba Pérez who died in 2001 and was legendary for faithfully rendering ancient Paquimé designs. Cabi has the reputation as the leading artist of the Casas Grandes style among Mata Ortiz potters. Cabi's artistry is considered as exquisite as his father's. Collectors world-wide seek out Cabi's pieces. Cabi has been creating wonderful art including effigies for over 20 years. This signed piece is 9 inches across. Cabi created this plate in 2007.
$135.00
Alvaro Quezada - Blue Olla
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Alvaro Quezada Olivas created this pot or olla from a select blue clay that only he, his brother Noe, and his father Juan use. The source of this "new" clay is safeguarded. In the tradition of Mata Ortiz potters, Alvaro uses native clay and constructs ollas by hand without a potters' wheel. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by Alvaro's father, Juan Quezada. Alvaro also works with the more technically difficult white clays. He fires in a bed of cow chips. Inspired by ancient pottery found in the area, Juan discovered the white and other clays and developed techniques to work with them.
Alvaro's work reflects his father's styles and his brother Noe's designs. Alvaro etched his signature on the bottom of this pot. This piece stands 8.25 inches tall, with a 22-inch circumference. Alvaro created this olla in 2006.
$800.00
Alvaro Quezada - Small White Olla
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Alvaro Quezada Olivas created the exquisite white pot or olla. In the tradition of the Mata Ortiz potters, Alvaro uses native clay and constructs ollas by hand without a potters' wheel. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by Alvaro's father, Juan Quezada. Alvaro has worked primarily with the more technically difficult to shape and fire white clay. He also works in newly discovered clays. He fires in a bed of cow chips. Inspired by ancient pottery found in the area, Juan discovered the white clays and developed techniques to work with them. Alvaro's work reflects his father's styles and his brother Noe's designs. Alvaro etched his signature on the bottom of this pot. This piece stands 8 inches tall, with a 19-inch circumference. Alvaro created this olla in 2006.
$425.00
Alvaro Quezada - Large White Olla
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Alvaro Quezada Olivas created the beautiful white pot or olla. In the tradition of the Mata Ortiz potters, Alvaro uses native clay and constructs ollas by hand without a potters' wheel. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by Alvaro's father, Juan Quezada. Alvaro has worked primarily with the more technically difficult to shape and fire white clay. He also works in newly discovered clays. He fires in a bed of cow chips. Inspired by ancient pottery found in the area, Juan discovered the white clays and developed techniques to work with them.
Alvaro's work reflects his father's styles and his brother Noe's designs. Alvaro etched his signature on the bottom of this pot. This piece stands 10 inches tall, with a 27-inch circumference. Alvaro created this olla in 2006.
$1050.00
Alvaro Quezada - Purple Olla
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Alvaro Quezada Olivas created this pot or olla from a recently discovered purple clay. In the tradition of Mata Ortiz potters, Alvaro uses native clay and constructs ollas by hand without a potters' wheel. Mata Ortiz ware, also known as Modern Casas Grandes, was developed by Alvaro's father, Juan Quezada. Alvaro also works with the more technically difficult white clays. Alvaro fires in a bed of cow chips. Inspired by ancient pottery found in the area, Juan discovered the white and other colored clays and developed techniques to work with them.
Alvaro's work reflects his father's styles and his brother Noe's designs. This signed piece stands 13 inches tall and has a 30-inch circumference. Alvaro created this olla in 2007.
SOLD
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