Tenorio, Mary Edna

Mary Edna Tenorio was born into Santo Domingo Pueblo in 1955. Her mother was Juanita Tenorio, her siblings were Robert Tenorio, Paulita Pacheco and Hilda Coriz. Her family were mostly jewelers and she had no real exposure to clay until after her brother Robert returned from his time at the Institute for American Indian Arts. Then he taught every one in the family how to make pottery, if they were interested.

Robert first taught them all how to work with the clay and he did the painting for them. Then Paulita and Hilda (with her husband Arthur) split off and did their own thing. Only Mary Edna continued to collaborate with Robert by letting him paint for her. She mostly made traditional polychrome jars, bowls, canteens, kiva fireplaces and storytellers.