Hector Gallegos Sr and Graciela Gallegos

Mata Ortiz

Hector Gallegos is a potter working in the village of Mata Ortiz. For the most part, his wife Graciela Martinez de Gallegos makes the pots that he paints. Early on Graciela taught Hector to paint Mimbres-style designs on her white pots. Sometimes now they work together on building a complex pot so that his designs fit better and enhance the shape more.

These days, there is usually a waiting list for their creations as both are now considered to be masters of the art form: Her shapes have gotten more innovative and his designs more meticulous. They particularly like to make urns, large wedding vases and long-necked vessels which sport repoussé and lightly-carved animal shapes.