Felipe Ortega, Apache Artist


+ Add Artist to My Preferences

Felipe Ortega was an Apache medicine man and talented micaceous clay potter. He was of Jicarilla Apache descent; Felipe honored the ancient tradition of micaceous pottery making. His ancestors began working the mica rich clay indigenous to this region of New Mexico, USA, over 400 years ago.

Felipe Ortega (1952-2018) claimed that he was the "fastest coiler in the West", referring to the coil and scrape method he used to build his beautiful micaceous clay pottery. Felipe createed micaceous clay pots that are sought by collectors and shown in museums, including the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex.


Source: Felipe Ortega's website

TAGS: Contemporary Pottery, Jicarilla Apache