Sanchez, Kathy

Kathy Wan Povi Sanchez is the daughter of Anita Pino Martinez and granddaughter of Adam and Santana Martinez. Like her mother and grandmother had before her, she learned to make San Ildefonso Pueblo-style pottery from her mother and grandmother as she was growing up. However, Kathy’s mother and grandmother painted their designs on their pieces whereas she prefers making sgraffito decorations and two-tone pieces (achieved in the firing process, not with clay colors or paints).

Kathy went beyond the world of pottery and earned a BS and an MA in Education from the University of New Mexico. She served her tribe often in governmental affairs. At the same time, she continued making pottery and earned a Second Place ribbon for Pottery at the 1981 Santa Fe Indian Market. In 1986 she earned a First Place ribbon at Santa Fe Indian Market for a non-traditional form. In 1988 she earned a Third Place ribbon at Santa Fe Indian Market for a non-traditional figure. Another non-traditional figure earned her a Second Place ribbon at the 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market.

Kathy is known for her combination of many different techniques and style. She mostly makes polished, lidded blackware vases, incised two-tone jars with inlaid stones and coral, bear figure bowls and non-traditional figures. She has been known to form spouts on the rims of some of her pieces.