Montoya, Isabel

Isabel Montoya (Atencio) (1898-1996) was the daughter of Nicolassa Pena Montoya (1863-1904) and Juan Cruz Montoya. Maria Martinez was Isabel’s cousin. Maria learned to make pottery by watching Nicolassa and Juan Cruz working together. Nicolassa made the pots and Juan Cruz painted them. He was also a well-known easel painter. However, Nicolassa died when Isabel was six years old. At that point, Isabel started her education at the Santa Fe Indian School, about 20 miles from home: the Indian School was a boarding school.

At school, Isabel showed a lot of promise with art sketches in pencil and crayon. Among her fellow artists at school were Fred Kabotie (Hopi), Steve Honani (Hopi), Otis Polelonema (Hopi) and Velino Shije Herrera (Zia).

After graduating, Isabel worked for the school superintendent’s wife for a while, then she married Benjamin Atencio and returned to the pueblo.

Isabel and Benjamin had four children: Angelita Atencio Sanchez, Gilbert Atencio, Pat Atencio and Helen Gutierrez. Isabel and Benjamin encouraged the artistic talents of all their children and they all became distinguished potters and painters. Gilbert is considered one of the greatest of all Native American painters.