Martin Olivas

Mata Ortiz

Martin Olivas Quintana is a potter from the village of Mata Ortiz. He learned the basics of making pottery the traditional way from his brother Jesus. Jesus had learned from their uncle Eduardo Quintana.

Martin appears to prefer working on white clay bodies where he adds multiple colored slips as he carves and etches his designs. He likes strong colors in bold designs that completely cover the surface of a pot.

Since 2019 Martin has been working more and more with black pots, carved, etched and painted with ancient patterns and geometric shapes.


Paquime feather and geometric designs around the neck of a polychrome jar decorated with a hummingbird, lizard and flower motif
Polychrome jar decorated with sgraffito hummingbird, lizard and flower motif plus a band of Paquime feather and geometric designs around the neck
9 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito dragonflies and geometrics designs on a black jar
Black jar with sgraffito dragonflies and geometric s designs
6.75 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito and painted flower, serpent, hummingbird and geometric design on a polychrome jar
Lightly carved polychrome jar decorated with a sgraffito and painted hummingbird, serpent, flower and geometric design
6.25 in H by 5.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Lightly carved, sgraffito and painted rabbit, roadrunner and geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar decorated with a lightly carved, sgraffito and painted roadrunner, rabbit and geometric design
6.5 in H by 5.5 Dia
Measurement includes stand
Sgraffito floral and hummingbird design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar decorated with a sgraffito floral and hummingbird design
6.25 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Polychrome jar decorated with a sgraffito and painted grasshopper, serpent, feather and geometric  design
Sgraffito and painted serpent, grasshopper, feather and geometric design on a polychrome jar
8.25 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar with a lightly carved and sgraffito hummingbird, lizard, flower and geometric  design
A lightly carved and sgraffito lizard, hummingbird, flower and geometric design on a black jar
6.5 in H by 6.75 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Polychrome jar with a lightly carved, sgraffito and painted hummingbird, serpent, rabbit, flower and geometric design
A lightly carved, sgraffito and painted hummingbird, serpent, flower, rabbit and geometric design decorate this polychrome jar
11.25 in H by 7.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar decorated with a lightly carved and sgraffito hummingbird, flower, dragonfly and geometric  design
Black jar decorated with a lightly carved and sgraffito flower, dragonfly, hummingbird and geometric design
5.25 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Polychrome jar decorated with a sgraffito and painted parrot, fish and geometric design
Sgraffito and painted parrot, fish and geometric design on a polychrome jar
6 in H by 6 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar with a lightly carved and sgraffito parrot, hummingbird and geometric design
A lightly carved and sgraffito parrot, hummingbird and geometric design on a black jar
5 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Polychrome jar with a lightly carved, sgraffito and painted bird, lizard, bee and geometric design
A lightly carved, sgraffito and painted bird, bee, lizard and geometric design decorate this polychrome jar
6.5 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar decorated with a lightly carved and sgraffito human, wildlife and geometric design
Black jar decorated with a lightly carved and sgraffito wildlife, human and geometric design
10.25 in H by 7.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar decorated with a carved, sgraffito and painted parrot, fish and geometric design
Carved, sgraffito and painted parrot, fish, flower, insect and geometric design on a black jar
4 in H by 5.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar with a lightly carved and sgraffito parrot, dragonfly and geometric design
A lightly carved and sgraffito parrot, dragonfly and geometric design on a black jar
5 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Polychrome jar with a lightly carved, sgraffito and painted hummingbird, cactus and geometric design
A lightly carved, sgraffito and painted hummingbird, cactus and geometric design decorate this polychrome jar
10.25 in H by 6.75 in Dia
Measurement includes stand

Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Potters