The Master Potter From Mata Ortiz:
Jorge Quintana

By Rebekah Powers | April 2024

Our current spellbinding exhibition includes a truly grand ceramic centerpiece, highly decorated and by Jorge Quintana. One of the few remaining masters, taught from an early age by Juan Quezada, Jorge strives to keep the Mata Ortiz traditions alive.

Jorge Quintana, Mata Ortiz, 24” x 17”

One definition of a master potter is one who knows where and how to dig the clay, add temper and prepare the clay. From start to finish, the master fine tunes his paints, perfecting results using local plants, minerals and clay bodies. The finish includes the firing itself, and experimenting with results. Juan taught Jorge every step of the process, and also shared unusual techniques, like using a hacksaw blade to smooth the clay, or making detail brushes from sticks and the hair from a child’s head.

As the pottery of Mata Ortiz has gained a worldwide following and museums and galleries take notice, Jorge Quintana’s reputation has also soared. Among his other talents, from burnishing to mixing paints, Jorge has a wide range of styles. A chameleon, he seems to have an inexhaustible range of abilities, from detailed painting and intricate incising to Day of the Dead carvings that commemorate his friend and mentor with an incised headstone reading:

“Juan Quezada C.”

Jorge Quintana has a nuanced background and learned the basics of hand built coil pottery from his grandmother. His grandfather was Chinese and upon in arriving in Chihuahua, Mexico, changed his name to Flores, as his Chinese name also meant “flowers”. Luckily for the remote town, a revival of a specialized and exquisite form of pottery was about to save Mata Ortiz from extinction, and Jorge Quintana was young and strong and creative, the perfect right hand man for Quesada as they gave the town new purpose and an outlet for a surprisingly diverse array of talents.

The grand centerpiece currently on display at Chimayo Trading is the work of Master Potter Jorge Quintana, exemplifying his understanding of clay simply by the size of it, snd his sense of design and of perfection of form. This large jar is a masterpiece that Juan would have been proud of.

Jorge Quintana, Mata Ortiz

Since his untimely death, the work of Juan Quezada has assumed increased value and because we have been a long time supporter of the best of Mata Ortiz, we have been able to secure some of his best pieces. They are now available, alongside the colossal work of his comrade and contemporary, Jorge Quintana.

Juan Quezada (1940-2022), 2000, 11.5” x 9.5”

Juan Quezada (1940-2022), 15” x 11”

“Viboras” by Juan Quezada (1940-2022), 10” x 7”

Juan Quezada (1940-2022), 11” x 9”

Juan Quezada (1940-2022), 10.5” x 9”, 1991

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#1 Saint Francis Church Plaza
Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

575.758.0504

We buy individual pieces or whole collections.

Contact us for the evaluation and resale of your collectible art.
We’re interested in locating relevant collections and original New Mexico artwork for purchase. We buy historic and contemporary relevant paintings, pottery, jewelry, textiles, weavings and more.

Contact us directly to discuss and evaluate your collection. If you’re an artist, contact us about the possibility of selling your art on consignment or direct wholesale purchase.

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