InspirationEmergenceArtistryLegacy
 

Early in her career, Maria Martinez was recognized as an exceptional potter. She soon began to develop a following in the nearby community of Santa Fe. As her contact with the non-Pueblo world grew, so too did her reputation as an artist.

Edgar Lee Hewett recognized her talent as a potter. After the founding of the Museum of New Mexico, he and Kenneth Chapman drew upon her expertise in their research of the prehistoric Southwest. They and other like-minded individuals encouraged her and provided opportunities for Maria to earn a living from her craft. As she developed as an artist, she and her husband Julian traveled outside of New Mexico and demonstrated at fairs and expositions throughout the country.

Museum of New Mexico