Mata Ortiz Pottery - The Story

As a young boy Juan Quezada was gifted with the heart of an artist. Without the funds to purchase paper, pen, or paint as we know them, he began to draw on the walls of his bedroom. Once the walls were covered with his creative art he would wash them off with kerosene and begin a new creation.

Being part of a large family Juan?s participation to help provide for them was to take his donkey into the nearby Sierra Madre mountains and gather firewood. It was during these journeys that he found his future. Although at the time Juan did not realize the impact these new discoveries would have on his family and village of Mata Ortiz. During the numerous trips for firewood Juan discovered an Ancient civilization in the form of potsherds. He became more and more intrigued and fascinated with each new find. Day after day he would study the ancient designs on broken pieces of clay. He became so intrigued that he began experimenting with the forming, painting and firing of soon to be incredible ollas (ceramic pots).

With no teacher other than his own intuition and resourcefulness Juan began on a new and exciting journey in his life. After many failures in the various processes of reviving a lost art, Juan began to have more success than failures. Encouraged by each new successful olla, Juan made a quality decision from the heart of a pure artist. He purposed to make each new olla better than the last. During this time of growth in the art of handcrafting, painting, and firing each new olla, family members and curious village neighbors watched with intense curiosity.

Later members of Juan Quezada?s family began to learn the art along with him - while others in the Village of Mata Ortiz began experimenting on their own. Hardly a day went by that an interested neighbor from one of the five Barrios (communities) of the village did not watch Juan and his family making new incredible pots from the native clays and minerals near found Mata Ortiz.

There is much more to this incredible story than I can write in the space available. But needless to say the heart of an incredibly humble artist started a ceramic revival in a quaint little village a few hours drive from US Mexico line in Northern Chihuahua, Mexico. Not only is this a ceramic arts revival but it continues to change the economy of a once poverty stricken people in Mata Ortiz. You can read more about this incredible story through the various books written about Juan and the Potters of Mata Ortiz. These books are available for sale in the Books and Videos section of our Gallery.

I recently met Juan Quezada at a ceramic workshop here in Colorado. I was taken by his humility and love for people who love the art of ceramics. I gave Juan one of my own drawings that was inspired by his art. Artist to artist our hearts were embraced by a gift that could only come from The Creator Himself!

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