Rodriguez, Ruben

Ruben Rodriguez is a potter from the village of Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico. He produces very fine black-on-black ware. His round vessels are highly polished with convex tops and square or rectangular openings. His pieces vary in size and are usually painted with intricate geometric designs that conform perfectly to the sizes and shapes of his pieces.

Ruben learned how to make pottery from his younger brother Manuel (aka Manolo), who’d learned directly from Juan Quezada Sr. Ruben says he learned his polishing techniques from Gerardo Cota. It’s his attention to polishing that accomplishes his trademark mirror surface. Sometimes he polishes something five times to get the finish he wants. Then he applies his designs in matte black paint with the same attention to detail. He wants all his angles to end at precise points and his designs are highly geometric.