Maria Martinez

"Maria and Popovoi, mother-and-son craftsmen, continue the tradition of pottery making at the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico. In 1919 Maria and her now deceased husband, Julian, sought to break away from the age-old black-on-red style characteristic of their Pueblo; and they developed the now popular black-matte earthenware. Popovoi continues to work with his mother, decorating, glazing, and firing the molds she fashions without aid of even a potter's wheel. Layers of clay are coiled round and round, then smoothed and shaped by hand. The pottery is sun-baked, then placed in an oven until the required hardness is achieved. Maria and Popovoi work in black, terra-cotta, polychrome, and sienna pottery. Designs are painted directly on the piece with yucca-leaf brushes. No mechanical means of any kind are used. Maria and Popovoi continue to operate a shop in their native Southwest, and their works are represented in many collections throughout the country."

- Objects: USA, Museum of Arts and Design, 1970.