Rick Dillingham, Artist and Author

Rick Dillingham (1952-1994), a respected Santa Fe dealer of both historic and contemporary Native pottery, masterfully leveraged his deep knowledge to curate exceptional Pueblo pottery for his clientele. His passion extended to the creation of several landmark exhibitions that celebrated the artistry of Pueblo potters. Furthermore, his published works have become invaluable reference materials in the field.

Dillingham's own artistic practice was deeply informed by Native pottery traditions. His most iconic creations, the shard vessels, directly reflect his insightful restoration work at Santa Fe's Laboratory of Anthropology, where he developed a holistic understanding of pottery as a composite art form. These unique pieces involved meticulously breaking and then reassembling countless shards, which he then adorned with diverse glazes, gilding, or paint.

A master ceramicist with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Mexico (1974) and a Master of Fine Arts from Claremont College of Arts and Crafts (1979), Dillingham's profound contributions were recognized through multiple National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowships. He was celebrated both for his innovative contemporary ceramics and his significant scholarship on the pottery traditions of North American Indigenous peoples.

TAGS: Santa Fe, Pueblo Pottery