Inez Ortiz facts for kids
Juanita Inez Ortiz, also known as Inez Ortiz (1960 – 2008), was a talented Native American artist. She was from the Cochiti Pueblo in Cochiti, New Mexico. Inez was a master at making pottery, a skill she learned from her family. Her beautiful pottery pieces are often found in art collections and museums today.
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About Inez Ortiz and Her Art
Inez Ortiz was born in 1960 into the Herrera family, who were famous for their Pueblo pottery. She started learning how to make pottery at a very young age. This was a family tradition, and she learned from her mother and grandmother.
Her Unique Pottery Style
Inez kept her pottery designs and shapes very traditional. This was much like her mother's style. Her siblings, however, often created more modern designs. Inez once said about her work: "I make all kinds of things: bears, nativity sets, miniatures, storyteller figurines, owls, turtles, and clay drums. I mold the ‘couple' pieces [a man and woman together] in different sizes. I'm also into the ceramics to make some things easier. I go back to the traditional because people like it."
Bringing Back Old Traditions
For many years, the old style of traditional Cochiti pottery was slowly disappearing. In 1964, an artist named Helen Cordero started making "storyteller" figures. These became very popular. Because of this, many Cochiti Pueblo potters began making these popular figures instead of the older styles. The older Cochiti style focused on animal and human figures.
Inez's brother, Virgil Ortiz, started making figures again that looked like the early 1900s Cochiti style. Inez was very inspired by his work. She then began to create her own human and animal figures. She used traditional Cochiti techniques to make beautiful pottery. This helped continue the amazing work of artists from hundreds of years ago.
Where You Can See Her Art
Inez Ortiz's pottery is part of several important museum collections. You can find her work at the Birmingham Museum of Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Spencer Museum of Art.
