Inez Ortiz

Cochiti potter Juanita Inez Ortiz, also known as Inez Ortiz, was born on August 11, 1960 to the Herrera family of potters. She was the daughter of Serafina Ortiz and granddaughter of Laurencita Herrera. Her siblings are also potters: Virgil Ortiz, Joyce Lewis and Janice Ortiz. Inez Ortiz learned pottery making from her mother and grandmother. She began making pottery for the market around 1984 and is known for her nativities, storytellers, owls, turtles, drums, bears, jars and bowls. Her work is in collections including the National museum of the American Indian and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Inez Ortiz died in 2008.