Artist Signatures

Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez

Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez (1887 - 1980) was active/lived in New Mexico.  Maria Martinez is known for Pueblo motif black pottery.

Of Tewa heritage of the San Ildefonso Pueblo in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, Maria Martinez became world renowned for her black on black pottery.  "This process involved burying the unfinished pot in a fire in the ground, covered tightly with sheep or cow dung for fuel.  The amount of air reaching the pottery determined whether the clay remained red or instead turned completely black." (Gibson/Michnovicz, 91) 

Her pottery was first exhibited beyond her pueblo at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, and many decades later at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, and the Heard Museum in Phoenix. 

She learned to make pots as a child from her aunt, Tia Nicolasa, and began with clay dishes she made for her playhouse.  In 1908, New Mexico archaeologist Dr. Edgar Hewett asked her to put some shards together and reconstruct an entire pot.  She was successful, and this activity further stirred her   ...  [Displaying 1000 of 20978 characters.]  Artist bio

Artist auction records

.  askART's database currently holds 216 auction lots for Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez (of which 188 auction records sold and 0 are upcoming at auction.)

Artist artworks for sale and wanted

.  There are 1 artworks for sale on our website by galleries and art dealers . There are 4 galleries and art dealers listing works of art by Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez as either "Wanted" or "For Sale" .

Research resources

.  askART lists Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez in 0 of its research Essays. Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez has 20 artist signature examples available in our database.

Similar artists

.  There are 24 similar (related) artists for Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez available:    Margaret Maria (Corn Blossom) Tafoya,  Julian Martinez,  Pablita (Tse Tsan-Golden Dawn) Velarde,  Popovi Da,  Fannie Polacca Nampeyo,  Tony Da,  Dan Namingha,  Quincy Tahoma,  Harrison (Haskay Yahne Yah) Begay,  Carl Von Hassler,  Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo,  Bob Moline,  Maria & Santana Martinez,  Maria & Julian Martinez,  Susan Kliewer,  Terri Moyers,  Charles Berninghaus,  Grant Macdonald,  Jose Roybal,  Tony Abeyta,  Helen Cordero,  Popovi Da & Maria Martinez,  Allan Houser,  Carl Redin