Martinez, Maria and Julian

Maria Martinez (Maria Montoya Martinez) and her husband, Julian were the featured Native American artists and potters at the San Ildefonso pueblo near Santa Fe, NM. The pair is credited with introducing the key techniques and designs of both San Ildefonso and Santa Clara black on black ware pottery. Their work influenced artists with their carved and matte blackware pottery decorations with monochrome, polychrome, and black on black pottery.

After Maria and Julian discovered in 1918 how to produce the now-famous black-on-black pottery technique and they spent the remainder of their careers perfecting and producing pottery for museums and collectors worldwide in this one of a kind style.

This style of blackware or black on black pottery is achieved by using a polishing stone to smooth over a glossy finish prior to the firing of the pot creating a high gloss design that has become the hallmark of pueblo pottery. 

Maria Martinez is of the circle of other great pueblo potters such as Julian Martinez, Margaret Tafoya, Sefarina Tafoya, Rose Gonzales, Teresita Naranjo. She is in the lineage of Christina Naranjo and Sarafina Tafoya.

Episodes:
Maria and Julian Martinez, Helen Cordero, Lucy Lewis
San Ildefonso potters Maria and Julian Martinez, Tiffany Paige, Victoria Writer Daisy Goodwin, SITI Theatre Company