Santa Clara Pueblo Black Pottery By Vicki Martinez

Late 20th/Early 21st Century

3.875" H x 4.875" D

Hand Coiled Black on Black with Deeply Carved Avanyu Serpent Wrapping Around the Body with a Geometric Border and Polished Black with Matte Accents

From a Private Colorado Collection

Excellent Condition

Vicki Martinez (Tewa name: Koe-Sawe, meaning "Buffalo Steps") is a renowned contemporary potter from the Santa Clara Pueblo in northern New Mexico, born in 1967. She is part of a distinguished family of artists, including her brothers, potters Sammy Naranjo and Chris Martinez, and her uncle, the late Manuel Martinez. Her work upholds the Pueblo's centuries-old tradition of handmade blackware and redware pottery, often featuring intricate carvings that reflect cultural motifs like the avanyu (horned water serpent), geometric patterns, feathers, and occasional floral or animal elements.

Martinez learned pottery making from her grandmother, Flora Naranjo (a master potter known for her polished blackware), and her mother, Barbara Martinez. She gathers natural clay from the hills of the Santa Clara Pueblo reservation, coils it by hand into forms, and fires it outdoors in traditional dung-fired kilns to achieve the signature deep black or red finishes. Unlike painted designs seen in neighboring San Ildefonso Pueblo pottery, Santa Clara artists like Martinez emphasize carving (sgraffito or etching) for texture and depth, creating a matte-over-glossy contrast. She often works in miniature scales but also produces larger pieces, signing her work "Vickie Martinez, Santa Clara Pueblo."

Her style blends tradition with subtle innovation—precise, elegant carvings on asymmetrical forms that evoke the flowing Rio Grande, which borders the Pueblo. Early in her career, she received encouragement from elders like Stella Chavarria and Teresita Naranjo, refining her skills to award-winning levels while keeping pieces accessible and collectible.