Margaret and Luther Gutierrez

Santa Clara Pueblo

Margaret (1936-2018) and Luther (1911-1987) Gutierrez were a brother and sister team, son and daughter of Lela and Van Gutierrez. Both learned the traditional Santa Clara ways from their parents and began producing pottery together in the 1960s. Luther had been collaborating with his mother for ten years after his father died. Then in 1966 his mother died.

Margaret and Luther's first works were mostly polychrome jars, bowls and wedding vases decorated with avanyu, rain, cloud and lightning designs. They worked almost entirely within the color palette of bright, bold earth colors on a tan or beige matte background that had been developed by their parents, Lela and Van.

In the 1970s they began producing their trademark animal and other figures, using the same earth color slips, pigments and bold lines they'd used in earlier works.

When Luther died, Margaret continued making pottery with Luther's daughter, Pauline, but Pauline died shortly thereafter. Margaret continued working with her great-niece Stephanie Naranjo, until a few years before she died in 2018.

Dorothy and Paul Gutierrez, Luther's daughter-in-law and son still make red and black animal figurines, nativities and mudheads.


Bird, feather and geometric design on a polychrome jar
Polychrome jar with bird, feather and geometric design
8 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Geometric design on a polychrome beaver figure
Polychrome beaver figure with geometric design
3 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Ladybug and geometric design on a polychrome chipmunk
Polychrome chipmunk with ladybug and geometric design
3.5 in H by 2 in Dia
Different designs on each face of an octagonal pot
Polychrome octagonal pot with different designs on each face
4.75 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Insect designs on the shell of a polychrome turtle
Polychrome turtle figure with insect designs on the shell
3 in H by 4.75 in Dia
Animal, insect and geometric design on a polychrome turtle figure
Polychrome turtle figure decorated with an animal, insect and geometric design
2.75 in H by 3.75 in Dia
Kiva step and geometric design n a polychrome bowl
Polychrome bowl decorated with a kiva step and geometric design
2.5 in H by 4.5 in Dia
Yei, insect and geometric design on a polychrome wedding vase Polychrome wedding vase with a Yei, insect and geometric design
10.25 in H by 9.5 in Dia
Miniature koshare figure laying on his stomach A miniature koshare figure laying on his stomach
0.5 in H by 1 in Dia
A raccoon storyteller with eight children Eight children on a raccoon storyteller
5.25 in H by 4.75 in Dia
Polychrome prayer bowl decorated with a dancer, bird, animal and geometric design Bird, animal, dancer and geometric design on a polychrome prayer bowl
3.25 in H by 4 in Dia
Five young frogs sitting on an elder frog storyteller An elder frog storyteller with five young students
3.75 in H by 3.75 in Dia
Turtle and geometric design on a miniature polychrome seed pot A miniature polychrome seed pot with a turtle and geometric design
0.75 in H by 1 in Dia
Polychrome owl wall plaque with a geometric design Geometric design on a polychrome owl wall plaque
8.25 in H by 6.25 in Dia
Miniature polychrome jar decorated with an avanyu design An avanyu design on a miniature polychrome jar
1.25 in H by 1.5 in Dia
A miniature polychrome koshare figure
A miniature koshare figure
1.25 in H by 1.25 in Dia

Santa Clara Pueblo Potters