Mary R. Lucero

Jemez Pueblo

Mary R. Lucero was born into Jemez Pueblo in 1948. She was inspired to learn the art of working with clay by her grandmother, Magnita Lucero (one of the last few Jemez potters still making pottery after the attempted revival of Jemez pottery in the 1920s and 30s). Magnita introduced Mary to the hills that provide the best clay for Jemez pots. Her grandmother also taught Mary where to gather other natural materials and pigments from sacred grounds on the pueblo. Magnita taught Mary how to mix, shape, paint, and fire pottery the traditional way, outdoors and with sheep dung.

Mary is famous for her handmade pueblo storytellers but she does more than that. She also makes animals, nativity scenes, "Flight to Egypt" pieces and other clay sculptures. She also likes to make most of them small, some of them miniature. Her work is finely detailed and her painting (in multiple natural pigments) is exquisite.

Diane Lucero is Mary's daughter. I've seen multiple signatures by Mary but she most often signs her pottery: Mary R. Lucero, Jemez.

One child on a grandmother storyteller
Grandmother storyteller with one child
0.75 in H by 2.75 in Dia
Mary Lucero storyteller
A storyteller figure
4.5 in H by 4.5 in Dia
Two children on a storyteller
Storyteller with two children
3.25 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Bridesmaid figure
Bridesmaid figure with a lamb
2.25 in H by 2 in Dia
2 children on a grandmother storyteller
A grandmother storyteller with 2 children
2 in H by 2 in Dia
A dog and a bird riding a turtle with a Singing Grandfather
Singing Grandfather riding a turtle with a bird and a dog
4.25 in H by 4.5 in Dia
One child and a ball with a miniature bridesmaid
A miniature bridesmaid with 1 child and a ball
2.25 in H by 2 in Dia
Puppy on a singing grandfather figure
A singing grandfather figure with a puppy
2 in H by 2.25 in Dia
1 child and a lamb on a grandmother storyteller
Grandmother storyteller with one child and a lamb
2.25 in H by 1.75 in Dia
One child and a lamb on a miniature grandmother storyteller
Miniature grandmother storyteller with one child and a lamb
2 in H by 1.75 in Dia
2 children on a miniature grandmother storyteller Miniature grandmother storyteller with 2 children
2 in H by 2.25 in Dia
4 children on a miniature grandmother storyteller A singing miniature grandmother storyteller with four children
3 in H by 2.5 in Dia
2 children on a miniature grandmother storyteller Grandmother storyteller with two children
2.25 in H by 2.25 in Dia
2 children on a miniature grandfather storyteller Miniature grandfather storyteller with two children
2 in H by 2.25 in Dia
2 children and a lamb on a grandmother storyteller Grandmother storyteller with 2 children and a lamb
3.5 in H by 3 in Dia
1 child on a miniature grandmother storyteller wearing a manta A miniature grandmother storyteller in a manta with one child
2 in H by 2 in Dia

Jemez Pueblo Potters