The Restless Genius of
Erik Fender (Than Tside’h)

Chimayo Trading Staff Report | November 2025

Erik Fender, known by his Tewa name Than Tside’h (meaning “Sunbird”), is a renowned contemporary potter from the San Ildefonso Pueblo in northern New Mexico, born in 1970. He comes from the lineage of San Ildefonso Pueblo artisans deeply rooted in the revival and evolution of traditional pottery techniques. His great-aunt was the legendary Maria Martinez (1887–1980), whose black-on-black pottery in the early 20th century helped preserve and popularize San Ildefonso’s ceramic traditions.

Erik recently delivered a collection of new pieces to Chimayo Trading, including one of the largest pieces from Erik we’ve seen in a long time. Come to our gallery in Ranchos de Taos or visit us online at chimayotrading.com to see these new arrivals and the rest of our extensive collection from San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Erik Fender (Than Tside’h).

12” x 12”
$5800

Fender’s immediate influences include his mother, Martha Appleleaf and his grandmother, Carmelita Dunlap. He began learning pottery at age 10 by observing Dunlap hand-coil and paint black-on-black pieces. By 17, he won a New Mexico Congressional Art Competition award, sparking his experimentation with colors and clays. In his early 20s, he apprenticed under his mother to master classic San Ildefonso designs.

1.75” x 10.5”
$1800

Today, he also teaches jewelry and Tewa pottery at the Poeh Cultural Center in nearby Pojoaque Pueblo, passing on these skills to the next generation. He lives with his family on the San Ildefonso Pueblo, balancing creation with cultural preservation.

4” x 5”
$1000

Fender has earned top honors at major venues, such as First Place at Santa Fe Indian Market (multiple years), awards at the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Show and has been featured in exhibitions like the New Mexico Congressional Art Competition.

6” x 5”
$1000

In 2017, Fender was invited to Washington, D.C., to view ancestral pieces of historic San Ildefonso Pueblo (Tewa) pottery in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) to be returned to their home communities in New Mexico. This collaboration allowed artists and community members to view, work with, and interpret the collection at the Poeh Cultural Center in Pojoaque, NM. This included works by relatives like Maria Martinez. The visit inspired Fender’s ongoing efforts to “borrow meticulously but never duplicate” ancestral designs, blending reverence with innovation.

4” x 4.25”
$600

The Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex (founded 1846 in Washington, D.C.), holds extensive Native American collections, including over 157 million artifacts across 21 museums—many focused on indigenous arts, history, and sciences.

4” x 3.75”
$450

This experience underscores the Smithsonian’s role in cultural repatriation and education, hosting events, loans, and consultations that bridge past and present Native artists. Fender’s lineage ties him indirectly to these collections, as Martinez’s revival was partly spurred by early 20th-century archaeological collaborations linked to Smithsonian affiliates.

3.75” x 3.75”
$450

Erik Fender (Than Tside’h), represents the living continuity of San Ildefonso pottery: a “restless genius” who safeguards traditions while pushing boundaries, much like his forebears. His story highlights how institutions like the Smithsonian serve as custodians of this heritage, fostering connections that keep Pueblo arts vital.

3.5” x 4”
$450

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Come to the gallery to see where History Meets Art in Taos..

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

575.758.0504

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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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