Ismael Flores

Mata Ortiz

Ismael Flores Ledezma and his wife, Maria Loya de Flores, are a husband-and-wife team of potters in the village of Mata Ortiz. He learned the traditional art from Manuel Rodriguez, his cousin, in the late 1980s.

Today, Maria builds, sands and polishes their pots while Ismael paints and fires them. Their early creations were often painted in the cuadrillo (four-direction) style, then they progressed to a more open and flowing style with designs that stretch across the whole of their pots with plenty of open space between, kind of like the Quezada style. Primarily, they make pots, bowls and wedding vases.


Bird element and geometric design inside and geometric design outside on a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl with geometric design outside and bird element and geometric design inside
5.25 in H by 7.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar decorated with a geometric design
5.25 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Measurement includes ring

Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Potters