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.