Gutierrez, Lela and Luther

Lela and Luther Gutierrez were a mother-and-son team of potters from Santa Clara Pueblo. Lela first attained fame as the wife of Van (Evangelio) Gutierrez (Lela and Van). Luther assumed his father’s role in the business after Van died. After Lela died, Luther collaborated with his sister, Margaret (Margaret/Luther). After Luther died, Margaret collaborated with her great-niece, Stephanie Naranjo. Then Margaret died, too.

Lela and Van are likely most famous for the color palette they developed as, except for polished red rims and bases, they mostly matte painted nearly the entire surface of all their pieces.

Lela and Luther used the same color palette in the same way. They mostly made polychrome jars, plates, bowls and figures.