Herrera, Irene

Irene Herrera (Apple Flower) was born into Jemez Pueblo in 1942, the daughter of Andrea Tsosie. Her heritage was 1/2 Zia and 1/2 Jemez. She started learning how to make pottery through watching and working with her mother when she was 8 years old. She made basic pots for several years, then graduated to painting her own designs when she was 12. Then she moved to Zia Pueblo.

At Zia she learned the Zia way to make pottery and studied the Zia design library. She earned her position as one of the foremost Zia potters when she earned a Best of Show award at the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show at Ohkay Owingeh. As she has said, “I enjoy making pottery because it comes from within my heart and it’s a gift to make my pottery.”