Jemez Pueblo Pottery By Juanita Fragua

Late 20th/Early 21st Century

4.25"H x 5.5" D

Hand Coiled Redware Clay with a Carved Water Serpent 

Excellent Condition

Juanita Fragua (1935–2023) was a renowned Jemez Pueblo potter whose work played a pivotal role in the revival of traditional pottery making at Jemez (Walatowa) during the 1960s and 1970s. Born into the Corn Clan, she learned the craft from her mother, Rita Magdalena (originally from Zia Pueblo), starting in 1948, and credited her Corn Clan sister Benina Shije from Zia for helping spark the renaissance at Jemez. At a time when Jemez pottery traditions had largely faded—replaced by simpler sun-dried, poster-painted pieces—Fragua innovated by experimenting with forms, designs, and techniques, drawing inspiration from ancient pieces in Santa Fe museums.

Her dedication was lifelong; even at 83, she worked full-time in her studio, supported by her granddaughter. Fragua's influence extended to her family: her children include potters Glendora Fragua Daubs and Betty Jean (B.J.) Fragua, and sculptor Clifford Fragua (known for his marble statue of Pueblo Revolt leader Popé in the U.S. Capitol). In 2020, she and Glendora collaborated on a piece that won First Place at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market. She also contributed to modern projects, like designing a Pueblo pottery coffee mug for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in 2018.