Maria Martinez - Hayden DiMitri

 

Maria Martinez was a Native American artist known for her international pottery. Martinez’s family consisted of potters who studied and created styles of her tribe, the Pueblo. She and her husband Julian Martinez restored the Pueblo’s technique of making all-black pottery. Her work gained popularity outside of the tribe and was recognized as works of art instead of household vessels during the 1920s. Because of her contributions to ceramics, Martinez received two honorary doctorates and exhibited her work at the Smithsonian Institution Renwick Gallery in 1978.

I particularly enjoyed this piece of pottery because of the design. The inverted design against the colors makes the pot very appealing to look at. Additionally, I like that it can be interpreted differently among people. For example, I see a snake sticking its tongue out.