Anna Martinez

Anna Martinez (Maximiliana “Anna” Montoya) was the eldest sister of noted potter Maria Martinez (1887-1980). She was married to Cresencio Martinez (1879-1918), who was a brother of Tonita Roybal. After the discovery of the process of making black-on-black pottery, Anna quickly adopted the style. Cresencio painted many of their early polychrome pieces, but after his death in 1918, Anna painted her pieces. She became an accomplished painter, and Maria noted that “everyone bothered Anna to put designs” on their pottery.