Tena, Norma

Norma Hernandez de Tena is a potter living and working in the village of Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico. For the most part she collaborates with her husband, Gerardo Tena Sandoval in the making of zoomorphic figurines.

Gerardo learned to make pottery from his mother, Sofia Sandoval de Tena and Norma learned from him. Usually, he makes the pots and does most of the painting while she does most of the sanding and polishing. She has made a few pots on her own.

Usually, among potting couples in Mata Ortiz, each may do as much of the work as the other, but the wife signs the smaller pieces while the husband signs the larger ones. Only a few couples sign every pot together.