Efren Ledezma

Mata Ortiz

Efren Ledezma Veloz is a member of the large Ledezma family, many of which are potters in the Mexican village of Mata Ortiz. He says he began to pot in 1995, learning from his brother Gerardo, but a lot of his pottery more closely resembles that produced by his neighbor, Manolo Rodriguez.

Many of Efren's pieces are composed of a white clay body decorated with complex repetitive geometric designs in black and red. He also often superimposes painted animals like bees, birds or lizards in a contrasting single color over the background. Then he started making seed pots and plates with lizard and turtle appliqués.

Sgraffito and painted red and black design on a buff-colored jar
Buff jar with sgraffito and painted geometric design
5 in H by 4 in Dia
Bands of crocodiles decorate a polychrome seedpot
Polychrome seedpot decorated with bands of crocodiles
5 in H by 4.75 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito and painted fish design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito and painted fish design
4.25 in H by 5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito and painted turtle design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito and painted turtlefish design
4.75 in H by 5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito, painted and raised lizard design on a self-standing polychrome plate
Self-standing polychrome plate decorated with a sgraffito, painted and raised lizard design
6 in H by 2.75 in Dia
Sgraffito, painted and raised turtle design on a self-standing polychrome plate
Self-standing polychrome plate decorated with a sgraffito, painted and raised lizard design
6 in H by 2.75 in Dia
Sgraffito and painted wildlife and nature design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito and painted nature and wildlife design
4.5 in H by 5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito, painted and formed lizard design on a self-standing polychrome plate
Self-standing polychrome plate decorated with a sgraffito, painted and formed lizard design
5.75 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Sgraffito, painted and formed lizard design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito, painted and formed lizard design
4.75 in H by 5 in Dia
Sgraffito and painted fish design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito and painted fish design
4.5 in H by 4.75 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito, painted and formed lizard design on a self-standing polychrome plate
Self-standing polychrome plate decorated with a sgraffito, painted and formed lizard design
5.75 in H by 6.25 in Dia
Sgraffito, painted and raised lizard design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito, painted and raised lizard design
4.75 in H by 5 in Dia
Lizard and geometric design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a lizard and geometric design
5 in H by 5 in Dia
Measurement includes ring
Sgraffito and painted fish design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot with sgraffito and painted fish design
4.75 in H by 5 in Dia
Measurement includes ring
Sgraffito, painted and applique lizard design on a polychrome seed pot
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito, painted and applique lizard design
5 in H by 4.75 in Dia
Measurement includes ring
Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito, painted and applique turtle design Polychrome seed pot decorated with a sgraffito, painted and applique turtle design
5 in H by 5 in Dia
Measurement includes ring

Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Potters