Tena, Gerardo

Gerardo Tena is a potter from the village of Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico. He was born in Ejido Hernandez, Chihuahua and moved to the village of Mata Ortiz with his family when he was seven years old. Shortly after that he had a job grinding clay for his uncle, Felix Ortiz.

One of the earliest potters in Mata Ortiz, Felix taught Gerardo how to work with clay and make jars, bowls and intricate effigies and figures. Felix also taught him how to fire his pieces. Gerardo’s mother, Sofia Sandoval de Tena, taught him how to paint.

Gerardo often collaborates with his wife, Norma Hernandez de Tena, in the making of zoomorphic figurines.

Awards Gerardo has earned

• At the annual Concurso Ceramica de Mata Ortiz:
  Zomorfas (zoomorphic or animal) Category: First Place in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2011, Second Place in 2000 and Third Place in 2007
• Diseños Mimbres (painted Paquimé Revival designs) Category: Third Place in 1999. In 1998 he earned an Honorable Mention in Miniatures, Third Place in 2006 and a First Place in 2011
• Nuevos Diseños (New Designs) Category he earned First Place in 2006 with “The Quails,” Third Place in 2009 with “Quadrito,” a square piece made to hang on the wall, and Third Place in 2007 with “The Armadillo.”