Robert Tenorio facts for kids

Robert Tenorio, born on December 29, 1950, is a famous potter from the Kewa Pueblo (also known as Santo Domingo Pueblo) in New Mexico. He creates beautiful pottery using traditional methods passed down through his family.

Robert Tenorio's Early Life

Robert Tenorio was born on December 29, 1950, at the Kewa Pueblo. His parents were Andrew and Juanita Tenorio, who belonged to the Fire Clan of their community.

Robert comes from a family of talented potters. His grandmother, Andrea Ortiz (1900–1993), was a potter, and so was his aunt, Lupe B. Tenorio (1902–1990). His sister, Hilda Coriz (1949–2007), also became a potter.

Education and Pottery Career

Robert's aunt, Lupe B. Tenorio, taught him how to make pottery using traditional techniques when he was young. She showed him how to prepare black paint from a plant called Cleome serrulata (Rocky Mountain Bee Plant). She also taught him how to make a creamy white coating, called a slip, from a special green clay found near the Cochiti Pueblo.

Later, Robert Tenorio attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. There, he continued to study pottery under a skilled teacher named Otellie Loloma.

When Robert finishes his pottery, he often signs his work with "Robert Tenorio, KEWA, N.M." He is known for making different types of pottery, including large jars called ollas with flared tops, bowls, and canteens. His pieces often feature designs in red, black, and cream colors. These designs can be geometric patterns, or they might show flowers and animals.

You can find Robert Tenorio's amazing pottery in several museums. Some of these include the Denver Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.

See also

• List of Native American artists