Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz & Tonalá - On View Now | San Antonio Museum of Art
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Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz & Tonalá
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On View Now
Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz & Tonalá
October 04, 2025–October 04, 2026
Steves Gallery
Visiting SAMA
Georgia O'Keeffe (American, 1887–1986),
It Was Yellow and Pink II,
1959, Oil on canvas; unframed: 91.5 x 76.2 cm (36 x 30 in.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Georgia O'Keeffe 1987.137 © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Though painter Georgia O’Keeffe and ceramist Maria Martinez apparently never knew each other, they had a lot in common. The most renowned artists associated with the American Southwest, O’Keeffe and Martinez were active at the same time. Both lived in New Mexico—O’Keeffe in and near Abiquiú and Martinez in San Ildefonso Pueblo—and both drew inspiration from the desert.
Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz &Tonalá,
a focus exhibition, brings together four paintings by O’Keeffe and three black pottery vessels by Martinez with ceramics from SAMA’s Latin American collection, including works from Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, and Tonalá, Jalisco. In dialogue, the works bespeak a deep sensitivity to landscape and earth. They also attest to the longstanding cultural connection between what is now the Southwestern United States and Northern and Central Mexico.
Three paintings by O’Keeffe come to SAMA from the Cleveland Museum of Art through Art Bridges and the vessels by Martinez and an additional painting by O’Keeffe are on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Canvas to Clay
celebrates both artists while examining O’Keeffe’s work within the context of Indigenous art practices.
This exhibition has been made possible by the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation. Vital support has been provided by Kelly Doggett.
Generous support has also been made by
Exhibition Gallery
Georgia O'Keeffe (American, 1887–1986),
It Was Yellow and Pink II,
1959, Oil on canvas; unframed: 91.5 x 76.2 cm (36 x 30 in.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Georgia O'Keeffe 1987.137 © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Jar, Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico, ca. 1930, Painted and burnished earthenware, height: 20 in. (50.8 cm); diameter: 17 in. (43.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, The Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection, 85.98.1853
Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1887–1980) and Julian Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1885–1943),
Double Spouted Wedding Vessel with Butterflies,
1930–1940, Earthenware with slip, 10 1/2 × 8 in. diameter, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Gift of Miss Ima Hogg, 44.86, Photograph © The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Thomas R. DuBrock
Earthenware Jar, Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico, mid to late 18th century, Burnished and painted earthenware, height: 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm); width: 22 3/8 in. (56.8 cm); depth: 13 13/16 in. (35.1 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by the Lillie and Roy Cullen Endowment Fund, 2021.21.a-d
Nicolas Quezada (Mexican), Low Wide Pot, Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico, ca. 1998–2001, Earthenware, height: 12 in. (30.5 cm); diameter: 13 in. (33 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Glenn Stehle, 2002.31.2
Hector Gallegos (Mexican), Pot with lid, Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico, 2002, Earthenware, height: 14 in. (35.6 cm); diameter: 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Glenn Stehle, 2002.31.4
Jar, Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico, ca. 1925, Painted and burnished ceramic, height: 31 1/4 in. (79.4 cm); diameter: 25 in. (63.5 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, the Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection, 85.98.1854
Georgia O'Keeffe (American, 1887–1986),
Sunflower, New Mexico, I,
1935, Oil on canvas; framed: 53.3 x 43.2 x 3.8 cm (21 x 17 x 1 1/2 in.); unframed: 50.8 x 40.6 cm (20 x 16 in.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Georgia O'Keeffe, 1987.140. © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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