Mata Ortiz pottery, named after the small village of Juan Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, where it originated and is now being produced, has achieved the enviable status as perhaps one of the more innovative ceramics movements to evolve in the 20th century.

Unlike Native American potters, Mata Ortiz artists are not confined to stylistic traditions. Rather, Mata Ortiz potters have had the unique ability to follow any successful tangent, in whatever direction the artist feels inspired to explore. For this reason, Mata Ortiz pottery has achieved unrivaled diversity in style, design, and creativity.

This gallery will display the finest and the most diverse Mata Ortiz pottery selection possible, with emphasis on showcasing the many excellent, yet less publicized artists, in addition to those whose work is well known.

In several small villages outside the capital of Oaxaca, Mexico, woodcarving has been a tradition for generations. Only in the past 35 years have the carvings become popular, and are now collected worldwide. Using rudimentary tools, these artists carve fascinating figures out of green, fresh-cut copal wood. After drying, then sanding, the carvings are painted, limited only by each artist’s imagination.

Oaxacan woodcarvings range from simple, humorous, and whimsical to exceptionally carved and ornately painted fine pieces of art.

In this gallery, you will find on display the finest selection possible to represent this tradition, with particular attention to woodcarvings from artists whose work is continually evolving.