Josephine Arquero, Cochiti Pueblo Potter

Josephine Arquero (1928-2019) was a celebrated master potter from Cochiti Pueblo, acclaimed for her expressive figurative ceramics, intricate detail, and dedication to traditional hand-built techniques.

Key Highlights & Legacy

• Artistic Lineage: Born into a distinguished family of Pueblo ceramic artists, Arquero learned the fundamentals of clay figurine construction from her mother, renowned potter Damacia Cordero. She grew up practicing alongside her sisters-Martha Arquero, Marie Laweka, and Gloria Herrera-each of whom became prominent ceramic artists.

• Signature Aesthetic: While grounded in her mother's teachings, Arquero developed a distinct style recognized for its warmth, refined proportions, and expressive human characters. Her figures are meticulously painted with authentic Pueblo attire, woven patterns, and gentle facial features.

• Primary Forms:

  • Storyteller Figures: Seated adult figures surrounded by gathered children, capturing the oral storytelling tradition of the Pueblo people.

  • Nacimientos: Detailed Nativity scenes rendered through a native Southwestern lens.

  • Animal Figures: Whimsical, stylized depictions of local wildlife and sacred animals.

• Cultural Authenticity: Arquero strictly honored traditional Cochiti methods-harvesting local clay, constructing pieces entirely by hand without molds, and using natural mineral slips (such as wild spinach for black tones) before open-pit firing.

Today, her ceramics are held in prominent public and private collections of Indigenous and Southwestern American art, valued for both their historic craft and timeless narrative warmth.

TAGS: Damacia Cordero. pottery, Martha Arquero, Marie Laweka, figurative pottery, traditional clothing