Martínez, María Montoya, 1885-1980

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Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico was a well- known potter.

From the description of Maria Montoya Martinez letter to Jim Riley, 1954 November 22. (Museum of New Mexico Library). WorldCat record id: 37992663

Maria Martinez (1887-1980) was an internationally-known potter from San Ildefonso Pueblo. With her husband Julian and the rest of her family, she created contemporary pottery inspired by traditional Pueblo styles and techniques. The family demonstrated their craft at expositions, world's fairs, and the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC.

From the "Photographs of Maria Martinez (undated) finding aid, the National Anthropolocal Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Maria Montoya Martinez (1887, San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico – July 20, 1980, San Ildefonso Pueblo) was a Native American artist who created internationally known pottery. Martinez (born Maria Poveka Montoya), her husband Julian, and other family members, including her son Popovi Da, examined traditional Pueblo pottery styles and techniques to create pieces which reflect the Pueblo people's legacy of fine artwork and crafts. The works of Maria Martinez, and especially her black ware pottery, survive in many museums, including the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum, and more. The Penn Museum in Philadelphia holds eight vessels – three plates and five jars – signed either "Marie" or "Marie &emp; Julian".

Maria Martinez was from the San Ildefonso Pueblo, a community located 20 miles northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico. At an early age, she learned pottery skills from her aunt and recalls this "learning by seeing" starting at age eleven, as she watched her aunt, grandmother, and father's cousin work on their pottery during the 1890s. During this time, Spanish tinware and Anglo enamelware had become readily available in the Southwest, making the creation of traditional cooking and serving pots less necessary. Traditional pottery making techniques were being lost, but Martinez and her family experimented with different techniques and helped preserve the cultural art. 

From Wikipedia article on Maria Martinez, accessed October 11, 2021

Alternate names include:

Poveka; Maria Poveka Martinez; Maria Montoya Martinez; Maria Povera Martinez; Maria; Poh've'ka; Maria; Antonia Montoya; Maria Montoya; Maria Povera Martínez; Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez; María Martínez; Maria Montoya Martinez; Maria Martinez

Wikidata, "Maria Martinez", accessed October 11, 2021

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn John L. Sinclair Pictorial Collection, 1902-1989 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Indian Arts and Crafts Board accession records National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
referencedIn Martinez, Maria Montoya : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Eldred R. Harrington Photograph Collection, 1930-1961 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Heard Museum. Heard Museum exhibitions, 2003. The Heard Museum Library
referencedIn Anne Forbes collection National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
referencedIn Leonard D. Hollister Collection Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries
referencedIn Herbert, Charles W. Charles and Lucile Herbert - Western Ways Features Manuscript and Photograph Collection, ca. 1930-1970 (bulk 1940-1960). Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
referencedIn Biography file--Indian artists, 1922-1984, 1980-1984 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Martinez, Maria Montoya. Maria Montoya Martinez letter to Jim Riley, 1954 November 22. Museum of New Mexico Library
referencedIn Schnabel, Eleanor. Eleanor Schnabel collection. The Heard Museum Library
referencedIn Peggy Pond Church Pictorial Collection, 1914-1984 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
creatorOf Martínez, María Montoya. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Martínez, María Montoya. [San Ildefonso bowl] [art original]. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Harrington, Eldred R., 1902-. Eldred R. Harrington Photograph Collection [Picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Walter Hazelton photograph collection National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
referencedIn Peterson, Susan, 1925-2009. Susan Peterson collection. The Heard Museum Library
referencedIn Elizabeth Willis DeHuff Pictorial Collection, 1899-1945 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Libby, Scott. Libby collection. The Heard Museum Library
referencedIn Sophie D. Aberle Photograph Collection, 1896-1996 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Church, Peggy Pond, 1903-1986. Peggy Pond Church Pictorial Collection [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Indians of North America Pictorial Collection The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Snow, Milton. Aberle, Sophie D. (Collection) [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
creatorOf Martínez, María Montoya. [San Ildefonso plate] [art original]. Denver Public Library, Central Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aberle, Sophie D., 1899- person
associatedWith Church, Peggy Pond, 1903- person
associatedWith Church, Peggy Pond, 1903-1986. person
biological parent of Da, Popovi, 1923-1971 person
associatedWith DeHuff, Elizabeth Willis, 1886-1983 person
associatedWith Harrington, Eldred R., 1902- person
associatedWith Harrington, Eldred R., 1902- person
associatedWith Heard Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Herbert, Charles W. person
associatedWith Hewett, Edgar L. (Edgar Lee), 1865-1946 person
associatedWith Hollister, Leonard D. person
associatedWith Martinez, Julian, 1879-1943. person
associatedWith Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Peterson, Susan, 1925-2009. person
associatedWith Riley, James K. person
associatedWith Sinclair, John L., 1902- family
Place Name Admin Code Country
San Ildefonso Pueblo NM US
San Ildefonso Pueblo (N.M.)
New Mexico--San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso Pueblo (N.M.)
San Ildefonso Pueblo NM US
Subject
Indian pottery
Potters
Pottery
Pottery, American
Pueblo art
Pueblo pottery
Tewa pottery
Occupation
Artist
Ceramicists
Potters
Activity

Person

Birth 1885

Death 1980-07-20

Female

Americans,

Native Americans

Information

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Ark ID: w6g26rxb

SNAC ID: 87341609