Margaret Gutierrez
Serpent Seed
Pot
3 1/2"
H x 2 1/2" D
Margaret Gutierrez (born 1936)
and Luther Gutierrez (19111987) were brother and sister
Native American potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico,
United States. They continued the polychrome style of painting
made famous by their parents Lela and Van Gutierrez. They learned
the art from their parents and began making pottery together
in the 1960s.
Margaret and Luthers painted slips included unique color
combinations. Their first creations included polychrome bowls,
jars and wedding vases with designs centered on the Avanyu (water
serpent), rain, clouds and lightning and sky bands. In the 1970s
they came up with their original idea of making polychrome caricatures
of animals and other smaller figurines rather than the jars made
famous by their parents. These were painted with the same slips
and pigments used on earlier pieces.
Margaret and Luther participated in the Seven Families in Pueblo
Pottery exhibition at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University
of New Mexico in 1974, and the Popovi Da Studio of Indian Arts,
gallery show in Santa Fe in 1976.
After Luther died Margaret continued to make pottery with the
assistance of Luthers daughter Pauline but Pauline died
shortly thereafter. Margaret now works with her great-niece Stephanie
Naranjo.