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Turner Carroll Gallery 725 Canyon Road Santa Fe, NM 87501 505.986.9800 turnercarrollgallery.com info@turnercarrollgallery.com ©2024 Turner Carroll Gallery Essay: Tonya Turner Carroll Design: Brian Bixby
All photographs courtesy Turner Carroll Gallery © Virgil Ortiz
The Art Revolution of Virgil Ortiz by Tonya Turner Carroll
In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art, few figures shine as brightly as Virgil Ortiz. He is a luminary in the realm of pottery whose groundbreaking contributions have not only redefined the boundaries of the craft, but also elevated the cultural narrative of the Pueblo people to a global stage. Ortiz hails from a distinguished lineage of Pueblo potters that includes his mother, Seferina Ortiz, and grandmother, Laurencita Herrera. Their artistic legacy courses through his veins, and guides him on a journey transcending traditional boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.
Ortiz creates a new body of large-scale work in the Peter Voulkos studio; Archie Bray Ceramics Center, Helena, MT, 2021
Ortiz’s mesmerizing clay creations have become a fixture in museum exhibits across the globe, from the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, to the Stedelijk MuseumHertogenbosch in The Netherlands. These exhibits showcase his artistic prowess and serve as a testament to his deep connection to his Cochiti Pueblo roots. The rich cultural tapestry of the Pueblo people, woven through generations, finds vivid expression in Ortiz’s work, inviting viewers to explore the intricate dance between tradition and innovation. 1
A true polymath, Ortiz extends his artistic vision beyond the confines of pottery, seamlessly integrating fashion, digital media, video, and film into his repertoire. The result is a multi-sensory experience that expands the narrative of Pueblo culture that invites audiences to engage with it in new and profound ways. His laser-cut leather jackets and vibrant T-shirt collections, such as the evocative “Colorblind" line, pay homage to the historic Pueblo Revolt of 1680, and weave together the threads of history and contemporary expression with finesse. Ortiz’s collaborations with fashion icon Donna Karan further underscore his ability to bridge the gap between contemporary Ortiz adds coils to Recon Watchman, Kailer Nopek; currently on view at Vladem Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship. This intersection of worlds brought his work to a broader audience, and it serves as a
powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of Pueblo culture on the global stage. In each collaboration and creation Ortiz masterfully crafts a dialogue between the past and the present, ensuring that the voices of his ancestors echo through the corridors of today.
Bu’name (West), Recon Watchman. Opening the kiln and into the raku combustion chamber. Ortiz unveils the first rakufired Recon Watchman from the Convergence series
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Intelligence Recon, Corvus, 2021, high fire ceramic and glazes, vintage glass beads on leather, 14 x 8 x 11" Currently on view at New Mexico Museum of Art — Vladem Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
As we look ahead to 2024, the art world eagerly anticipates Ortiz’s solo exhibition at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. Through Ortiz’s eyes, we witness not only the evolution of pottery but also the profound impact that one artist can have in preserving and revitalizing cultural heritage. Virgil Ortiz’s works remind us that true innovation arises when tradition and modernity engage in a harmonious dance. His ability to seamlessly weave the threads of his heritage into the fabric of contemporary art positions him as a visionary whose work will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the artistic landscape for generations to come.
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Convergence Series
Virgil Ortiz’s Revolt 1680/2180 epic saga opens a new portal to unleash his latest series, Convergence — a new body of large-scale raku-fired sculptures emblazoned with bold-colored glazes and unexpected textures. He creates time-traveling warriors, the Recon Watchmen. Their mission: safeguarding the Pueblo people’s past, present, and future and ensuring their survival and perseverance against the threat of the Castilian Army encroaching on the Pueblo lands. The Recon Watchmen are from the year 2180 — they conduct covert surveillance of Earth to detect any movements from the invaders. Donning helmets adorned with Stargate crests, the Recon Watchmen, armed with impenetrable Ha’pons (war shields), start sealing off pathways and portals and storm the Castilian settlements. The enemy is besieged and driven out. They quickly gather the survivors and search for any remaining clay artifacts from the battlefields. They realize that challenges and persecution will continue, so preserving and protecting their clay, culture, language, and traditions from extinction is imperative.
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Bu’name (West), Recon Watchman, 2023, raku glazed ceramic, 44 x 35 x 26" To be featured in Ortiz’s solo exhibition at the Lowe Museum of Art in Miami, 2024
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Recon Watchman, Kuh kahn, 2023, raku glazed ceramic, 44 x 35 x 26" Currently on display at History Colorado Museum, Denver, CO
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Recon Watchman, Shuha, 2023, raku glazed ceramic, 44 x 35 x 26" Currently on display at History Colorado Museum, Denver, CO
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Recon Watchman/Flyt, 2023, high fire ceramic and glaze, 21.5 x 13 x 11"
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Recon Watchman/Flyt, right and left
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Recon Watchman/JMPR, 2023, high fire ceramic and glaze, 44 x 35 x 26"
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Recon Watchman/JMPR, right and left
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Recon Watchman/Tseka, 2021, high fire clay and acrylic detail, 32.5 x 18 x 12.5"
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Recon Watchman/Dorn, 2020, soda fired ceramic, 21.5 x 13 x 11"
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Collaboration with Elias Jade Not Afraid (Apsáalooke), Intelligence Recon, Corvus, 2021 high fire ceramic and glazes, vintage glass beads on leather, 14 x 8 x 11" Currently on view at New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM The bead inlay represents microchips built into the Recons’ bodies used to collect and store intelligence from their reconnaissance missions.
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Doyen, Meecuna, 2021, high-fire clay and glazes, acrylic details, 59 x 32 x 33"
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Virgil Ortiz WORKS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Washington, DC
Stedelijk Museum-Hertogenbosch
Amsterdam, NL
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Santa Fe, NM
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Richmond, VA
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
Paris, FR
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington, DC
Denver Art Museum Denver, CO Portland Art Museum Portland, OR Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Richmond, VA
North Carolina Museum of Art
Raleigh, NC
Ackland Art Museum Chapel Hill, NC Albuquerque Museum Albuquerque, NM Museum of Indian Art and Culture
Santa Fe, NM
EXHIBITIONS 2024
CONTAINER Santa Fe, Revolt 1680/2180, Santa Fe, NM Indigenous Futurism, Autry Museum, Los Angeles, CA J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA Lowe Museum of Art, Miami, FL North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2023
New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary, Shadow and Light, Santa Fe, NM Fondation Cartier x Triennale Milano, Siamo Foresta, Milan, IT History Colorado Center, Revolt 1680/2180: Runners + Gliders, Denver, CO Fondation Cartier x Triennale Milano, Mondo Real, Milan, IT
2022
Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour, Bentonville, AR Crocker Art Museum, Pueblo Dynasties: Master Potters from Matriarchs to Contemporaries, Sacramento, CA
2019
Denver Art Museum, Virgil Ortiz: REVOLT 1680/2180, Denver, CO
2015
Denver Art Museum, Sovereign: Independent Voices, Denver, CO
2013
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporian, Histories de Voir, Paris, FR
2012
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMOCA), Translator Unleashed, Video Premiere, Scottsdale, AZ
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AWARDS & SPECIAL RECOGNITION 2023
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Outstanding Achievement Awardee
2022
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Native Living Treasure Awardee
2019
The Kennedy Center, Grand Opening of The REACH, The People We Are, Keynote Speaker
2015
New Mexico Arts (a division of Cultural Affairs): The Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Art in Ceramics
2012
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporian, “Vertigo", (permanent collection acquisition)
ARTIST RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS 2022
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO
2021
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MO
2020
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Studio Workshop, New York, NY
2019
Kennedy Center, Studio Workshop, Washington, DC
2017
Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Hear My Voice, Richmond, VA
2016
Albuquerque Museum, REVOLT 1680-2180: Virgil Ortiz, Albuquerque, NM
2015
Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, NY
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