Lucy Lewis

Lucy Lewis

Acoma
Deceased (1890 – 1992)

Lucy Martin Lewis was born in Sky City, a mesa in Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico to Lola Santiago and Martin Ortiz. Though she celebrated her birthday on November 2, her birth year, while unknown, was probably in the 1890s
Lewis began making pottery at age seven, after studying with her great aunt, Helice Vallo. Both of her parents occasionally worked in the nearby town, Grants. Her early pottery was made for tourists. The ash-bowls were easily made and sold for five or ten cents.

In the late 1910s, Lewis married Toribio ‘Haskaya’ Luis. The family name was changed to Lewis when the oldest son, Ivan, went into the marines during World War II. She had nine children, seven of which went on to become potters.

One of Lewis’ daughter, Dolores Lewis Garcia, once noted:
“My mother, Lucy M. Lewis, began making pottery at about age seven and attracted public attention for her work in the 1950s…Our family would buy books to look up the old pottery designs and Dr. Kenneth Chapman from the Museum of New Mexico suggested to us to use the Mimbres designs and they have become very popular for us today. I was the first to use the Mimbres designs, then my sisters Emma and Mary began to use them. We have helped with publicity for other Acoma potters to bring more attention to the pottery of the Pueblo.”

Lewis’ designs were inspired by Ancestral Pueblos (Anasazi), including the Mimbres designs of the Mogollon as well as the Chacoan culture. Her work began to be recognized in 1950 when she won a blue ribbon at the annual Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial. She is certainly one of the matriarchs of Pueblo pottery.

In 1977, Lewis was invited to the White House and in 1983 she received New Mexico’s Governor’s Award for outstanding personal contribution to the art of the state. Her final art show was at the 1991 SWAIA Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After a long illness, Lucy M. Lewis died on March 12, 1992.

Lucy Lewis

Acoma
Deceased (1890 – 1992)

Lucy Martin Lewis was born in Sky City, a mesa in Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico to Lola Santiago and Martin Ortiz. Though she celebrated her birthday on November 2, her birth year, while unknown, was probably in the 1890s
Lewis began making pottery at age seven, after studying with her great aunt, Helice Vallo. Both of her parents occasionally worked in the nearby town, Grants. Her early pottery was made for tourists. The ash-bowls were easily made and sold for five or ten cents.

In the late 1910s, Lewis married Toribio ‘Haskaya’ Luis. The family name was changed to Lewis when the oldest son, Ivan, went into the marines during World War II. She had nine children, seven of which went on to become potters.

One of Lewis’ daughter, Dolores Lewis Garcia, once noted:
“My mother, Lucy M. Lewis, began making pottery at about age seven and attracted public attention for her work in the 1950s…Our family would buy books to look up the old pottery designs and Dr. Kenneth Chapman from the Museum of New Mexico suggested to us to use the Mimbres designs and they have become very popular for us today. I was the first to use the Mimbres designs, then my sisters Emma and Mary began to use them. We have helped with publicity for other Acoma potters to bring more attention to the pottery of the Pueblo.”

Lewis’ designs were inspired by Ancestral Pueblos (Anasazi), including the Mimbres designs of the Mogollon as well as the Chacoan culture. Her work began to be recognized in 1950 when she won a blue ribbon at the annual Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial. She is certainly one of the matriarchs of Pueblo pottery.

In 1977, Lewis was invited to the White House and in 1983 she received New Mexico’s Governor’s Award for outstanding personal contribution to the art of the state. Her final art show was at the 1991 SWAIA Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After a long illness, Lucy M. Lewis died on March 12, 1992.

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