San Ildefonso Pueblo

Russell Sanchez is a full blooded Native American Indian born in July of 1966 into the San Ildefonso Pueblo.

Pueblo children are seldom taught to make pottery, they learn by watching and experimenting with clay on their own. However, Russell was inspired and encouraged to learn the art of pottery making from his aunt, Rose Gonzales, as a young child at the age of twelve.

He was also inspired by another famous potter by the name of Dora Tse-Pe’, who encouraged Russell to continue the long lived tradition of constructing vessels from nature’s gifts. He observed her with a careful eye and eventually developed his own techniques and styles.

He eventually adopted techniques with the use of inlayed turquoise and heishi beads. He also was influenced by Jody Folwell, who introduced him into using different colors of clays and slips on the same vessels.

Russell specializes in a wide variety of contemporary pottery such as: redware, blackware, micaceous, green clay jars, and figurines. He is a definite outdoorsman and gets most of his inspiration from mother nature. He enjoys hiking around the San Ildefonso Pueblo hills and deserts.

Awards:
-1979 Best of Class Santa Fe Indian Market
-1981 Best of Division Santa Fe Indian Market
-1988 Non-Traditional Figures Santa Fe Indian Market
-1990 Non-Traditional 2nd Place Santa Fe Indian Market
-1992 Non-Traditional 1st Place Santa Fe Indian Market
-1994 Non-Traditional 1st Place Santa Fe Indian Market
-1998 Non-Traditional 1st Place Santa Fe Indian Market
-Several Others too numerous to list

Publications:
-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies