Along the Palanganas River near the ancient ruins of Casas Grandes, in northern Chihuahua, Mexico, a local self-taught potter named Juan Quezada founded a native art movement inspired by traditions that had died out around the time of the Spanish Conquest.
Source: https://www.tannerchaney.com/info/other/mata_ortiz
Mata Ortiz has recently seen a revival of an ancient Mesoamerican pottery tradition. Inspired by pottery from the ancient city of Paquimé, which traded as far north as New Mexico and Arizona and throughout northern Mexico, modern potters are producing work for national and international sale. This new artistic movement is due to the efforts of Juan Quezada, the self-taught originator of modern Mata Ortiz pottery, his extended family and neighbors
Mata Ortiz pots are hand built without the use of a potter’s wheel. Shaping, polishing and painting the clay is entirely done by hand, often with brushes made from children’s hair. All materials and tools originate from supplies that are readily available locally. The preferred fuel for the low temperature firing is grass-fed cow manure or split wood. Each of these characteristics derive from the ancient pottery traditions of the region, however Mata Ortiz ware incorporates elements of contemporary design and decoration and each potter or pottery family produces distinctive individualized ware.
Mata Ortiz Parrot Dish
Mata Ortiz Parrot Pot
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Mata Ortiz Pottery Jar by Lupe Soto.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Sabino Villalba.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Franklin Peters.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Hector Quintana.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Mata Ortiz Pottery by Vidal Corona.
Macaw cazuela bowl, by Manuel Rodriguez Guillen.
Olla Pottery by Paty Ortiz.
