Fragua, Betty Jean

Betty Jean Fragua was born into Jemez Pueblo in October, 1962 and she passed on in August, 2022. She was the daughter of Manuel and Juanita Fragua, sister of Glendora Fragua (Daubs) and sculptor Clifford Fragua.

Betty Jean learned how to make pottery through watching and working with her mother, Juanita. Juanita was one of the driving forces behind the rebirth of pottery making at Jemez Pueblo in the 1970s and 1980s.

Betty Jean developed a distinctive style of carving and painting her favorite designs: corn plants, flowers, feathers and lizards. Her work continually earned ribbons at the Santa Fe Indian Market and Gallup InterTribal Ceremonials from 1984 on.