Mata Ortiz, near the ancient ruins of Casas Grandes, Mexico, is a small town famous for its beautiful pottery. The potters of Mata Ortiz are inspired by the art of the ancient Paquime indians who lived nearby years ago. While Mata Ortiz itself is a village barely three streets wide, it is home to Juan Quezada, the self-taught originator of Mata Oritz pottery.

Mata Ortiz pots are one of the finest and most innovative ceramics in the world. Although rooted in a thousand year tradition, potters are free and spontaneous, blending cultural expression, economic need, and artistic desire. Pots are hand built without the use of a potter's wheel. Shaping, polishing, and painting the clay is entirely done by hand, often with brushes made from children's hair.