This article profiles Native American artisan Maria Poveka Martinez. Martinez played a vital role in the revival of pottery making throughout the Southwest United States. Born in 1887 in the San Ildefonso region of New Mexico, Martinez first made pottery as a child and received encouragement from her aunt, who was an excellent potter. 1907 is the year that she began her pottery career in earnest. By 1915, she had mastered the art of making larger vessels and attained a level of skill that surpassed all other San Ildefonso potters. Her pottery was characterized by relatively thin walls, hard firing, careful forming, smooth and clear finishes, carefully applied and well-executed designs, and, in the case of Black ware, a highly lustrous surface polish. Her pottery utilizes traditional techniques and demonstrates a preoccupation with form and balance. Although she had a career that spanned most of the 20th century and received national and international recognition during her lifetime, Martinez never had a major retrospective exhibition in her native state, New Mexico, until after her death in 1980.