Inez Ortiz

Juanita Inez Ortiz, also known as Inez Ortiz (1960 – 2008) She is the daughter of Cochiti potter Seferina Ortiz (1931–2007) and granddaughter of Cochiti potter, Laurencita Herrera (1912–1984). Her three siblings are also potters, Virgil Ortiz, Joyce Lewis, and Janice Ortiz. Traditional Cochiti pottery has been disappearing for many decades. The creation of storytellers by Helen Cordero at Cochiti in 1964, and their ensuing popularity, resulted in Cochiti Pueblo potters turning to the production of these highly marketable forms. The older Cochiti style which primarily focused on animal and human figures was abandoned on a large scale.

Inez's brother Virgil began to recreate the figures that were made using the early 20th century Cochiti-style. Inez became inspired and impressed and began to make human and animal figures using traditional Cochiti techniques to create beautiful pottery and continue the work of her predecessors hundreds of years ago. the National Museum of the American Indian and the Spencer Museum of Art.