About the Artist

(20th Century) "Nicolas Ortiz Estrada may be the most inspired of all the Mata Ortiz artists. His abilities are legendary, and his creative energy is boundless. . . As a potter, Nicolas is a sculptor first and a painter second, and his effigy pots are both realistic in form and beautifully painted. Nicolas learned the basics of potting from his younger brother Macario and from hanging around Felix's group during the late 1970's.

His work was featured in the University of New Mexico Art Museum exhibit in 1995, and ever since he has been overwhelmed with orders. His painted rabbit of polished buff clay in that show attracted numerous requests for more.

Nicolas stands 6' 7" tall and lives with his family in Barrio Porvenir. This artist makes javelina, black rabbits, eagles, snakes, nice and even a desert tortoise." The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz was the source of the above information.