Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter

San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Ramona Sanchez Gonzales (c.1885-c.1980) was a master potter renowned for her versatility in various pottery techniques, styles, and forms. According to Nancy Fox, former Curator of Anthropology Collections at the Museum of New Mexico, Ramona was "...one of the most respected potters of her generation."  Her legacy shines through her significant contributions to the black-on-black pottery tradition. Her innovative techniques, which continue to inspire and influence contemporary Native American artists.

Ramona was a contemporary of the legendary Maria Martinez, indicating she was born around the 1870s or early 1880s. She was married to Juan Gonzales and was the mother of Robert Gonzales, whose wife was the esteemed potter, Rose Gonzales. This made her the grandmother of Tse-Pé Gonzales, another notable potter. Additionally, she was the stepmother of Blue Corn (Crucita Gonzales Calabaza), further cementing her influential role in the lineage of distinguished San Ildefonso potters.

Reference and Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: San Ildefonso Pueblo, Maria Martinez, Rose Gonzales, Tse-Pé Gonzales, Blue Corn  - Crucita Gonzales Calabaza