The Mata Ortiz Pottery Show & Sale (May2-3rd, 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm both days)

Pictured: Pottery from previous Mata Ortiz events at the MIP

HEY POTTERY FANS! The Museum of Indigenous People is proud to once again host The Pottery collectors and art lovers — mark your calendars.

The Museum of Indigenous People is proud to host The Mata Ortiz Pottery Show & Sale, a two-day celebration of one of the most extraordinary ceramic revivals in North America. This special event offers the public an opportunity to meet artists, watch live demonstrations, and purchase exceptional hand-built pottery directly from the makers.

Live Demonstrations & Freshly Fired Auction Pieces

Throughout both days of The Mata Ortiz Pottery Show & Sale, visitors will experience the full creative process. One artist will demonstrate traditional pottery construction techniques, while another will fire pieces outdoors using open-air methods.

Freshly fired works typically one or two per day will be auctioned live, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire pottery straight from the firing process.

The Story Behind Mata Ortiz Pottery

Visitors at the Museum of Indigenous People: Mata Ortiz Pottery show and sale

The Mata Ortiz pottery tradition traces back to the Palanganas River region near the ancient ruins of Casas Grandes in northern Chihuahua, Mexico. In the 1970s, a local vaquero and self-taught potter named Juan Quezada began studying pottery fragments scattered across the desert landscape remnants of a ceramic tradition that had faded after Spanish colonization.

Without formal instruction, Quezada experimented with native clays and natural pigments. Through persistence and careful observation, he rediscovered ancient hand-building methods:

• Pinch and coil construction for near-perfect symmetry

• Stone burnishing for a high polish finish

• Fine brushes crafted from human hair

• Open-air firing techniques

What began as one man’s curiosity grew into a community art movement. Quezada shared his knowledge with family members and neighbors, helping revive a regional ceramic tradition that now includes nearly 300 working potters.

Today, Mata Ortiz pottery is recognized internationally for its craftsmanship, precision, and innovative contemporary designs rooted in a thousand-year aesthetic lineage.

Why Attend The Mata Ortiz Pottery Show & Sale?

• Meet Mata Ortiz artists in person

• Watch live pottery making and firing demonstrations

• Bid on freshly fired auction pieces

• Purchase museum-quality ceramics directly from artisans

• Support Indigenous art and cultural preservation

Whether you are a seasoned collector or discovering this tradition for the first time, The Mata Ortiz Pottery Show & Sale offers a rare opportunity to connect with living artistry grounded in history and innovation.

For more information about this pottery sale and demonstration, go to https://www.museumofindigenouspeople.org/events-1/mata-ortiz-pottery-show-sale