Ambrose Atencio

Santo Domingo Pueblo

Ambrose Atencio was born in June 1963, at Santo Domingo Pueblo. He was raised in a family of potters, learning much about the art of making pottery from watching and working with many relatives, but he says he was most influenced by his uncle, Robert Tenorio. The quality and depth of what he learned and the years of his own hard work are reflected in the shapes of his pots and in the fine execution of the traditional Santo Domingo designs that he prefers.

Ambrose works in the traditional way, collecting the materials for his pottery on pueblo lands. He also fires his work using cottonwood bark like his grandmother, Crucita Tortalita, did. He's now teaching his son Elroy to work with clay.

Ambrose signs his work: “Ambrose Atencio, KEWA", and the date the pot was created.

Awards Ambrose has Earned:

  • Indian Arts Northwest Market (Portland, OR)
  • Fountain Hills Indian Market
  • The Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show
  • Dallas Indian Arts and Crafts Fair
  • Several awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market including Best of Class and Best of Category

Birds and floral design inside and geometric design outside on a polychrome dough bowl
Polychrome dough bowl with geometric design outside, birds and floral design inside
10.25 in H by 18.25 in Dia
Polychrome jar
Polychrome jar
8.5 in H by 9.5 in Dia
Santo Domingo Mission Church figure
Santo Domingo Mission
6.75 in H by 7 in W by 8.5 in D
Geometric design on a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl with geometric design
9.5 in H by 15.5 in Dia
Second Place Ribbon, 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market
Geometric design inside and out on a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl with geometric design inside and out
2.25 in H by 8.25 in Dia
Black and white geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar with black and white geometric design
4.25 in H by 7.5 in Dia
Bird and flower design on a polychrome olla
Polychrome olla with bird and flower design
9 in H by 9 in Dia
Black and white geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychorme storage jar decorated with black and white geometric design
7 in H by 8.5 in Dia
A fish and geometric design inside, geometric design outside on a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl with a fish and geometric design inside, geometric design outside
4.25 in H by 12.25 in Dia
Geometric design inside and out on a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl decorated with a geometric design inside and out
5.25 in H by 11 in Dia
Bird, plant and geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar with a bird, plant and geometric design
7.75 in H by 7.25 in Dia
Bird, plant and geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar with a bird, plant and geometric design
6.75 in H by 7.25 in Dia
A fish and geometric design inside, geometric design outside on a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl with a fish and geometric design inside, geometric design outside
4.25 in H by 12.25 in Dia
Bird, plant and geometric design on a polychrome jar
A polychrome jar with a bird, plant and geometric design
7.5 in Dia by 8.25 in H

Santo Domingo Pueblo Potters