Zia - Jemez Pueblo

Irene Herrera, “Apple Flower” was born in 1942. She is half Zia and half Jemez.

Irene was inspired to hand coil pottery using ancient traditional methods passed down to her by her mother, Andrea Tsosie. Irene was 8 years old when she sparked an interest in pottery making. She would sit and observe Andrea hand coil and paint her pottery, and at the age of 12 she started to paint on pottery.

The lucrative aspect of the business was also inspiration for her to learn the art of pottery making. However, it is more of a hobby for Irene to contribute to the art world.

Irene specializes in the traditional Zia Pueblo hand coiled and hand painted pottery. She gathers her clay within the Zia Pueblo. Then, she grinds, hand cleans the clay, mixes, hand coils, shapes, paints and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Irene hand coils a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The colors she uses on her pottery are also natural pigments.

She said “I enjoy making pottery because it comes from within my heart and it’s a gift to make my pottery.”

Irene signs her pottery as: Irene Herrera, Zia.

Irene is also related to the following artists: Leonard Tsosie, Rebecca Tsosie-Gachupin, and Joanne Tsosie-Toribio.

Awards:
-Eighth Northern Art Show Best of Show
-Eighth Northern Art Show 2nd place

Publications:
-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies