A Native American Artist Translates His Talents to Fashion
Virgil Ortiz celebrates Pueblo history in pottery and futuristic fashion.
By Ben Ikenson | Photography by Wendy McEahern
Virgil Ortiz poses in New Mexico’s La Bahada hills with characters from his movie script about the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. Known as Aeronauts, “they are protectors: cultivating, reviving, preserving and educating mankind about Pueblo people and our history,” says the artist.
In a large studio on the historic Cochiti Pueblo, about 45 minutes west of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a figure covered entirely in metallic sheen, sporting black patent leather combat boots and a chrome morion helmet, like some portentous apocalyptic avatar, fends off invisible enemies with a large sword. It’s a modern-day depiction of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt as imagined by its groundbreaking creator: Native American artist, potter, fashion designer and photographer Virgil Ortiz.
Also referred to as the first American Revolution, the revolt was an uprising of indigenous people against Spanish colonizers in the areas surrounding Santa Fe. According to Ortiz, it isn’t taught in American schools nor can it be found in history books. “My mission of nearly two decades has been to create a narrative of the revolt utilizing the various mediums in which I work,” he explains. “I want to make it interesting and relevant to the next generation. I want them to understand our history, how we survived genocide, and how our ancestors kept our art, traditions and ceremonies intact.”
ABOVE From Ortiz’s Pueblo Revolt 2018 series, “Venutian Soldiers,” measures 9″H by 8″ in diameter. RIGHT This character—a Castilian—is representative of the Conquistadors. His silver outfit is a prototype that will eventually be crafted of leather.
Though quiet and unassuming, Ortiz is known for making bold artistic statements that often contrast traditional Pueblo elements with contemporary, even futuristic designs. Considered one of the most innovative potters of his time, the artist has had his work exhibited in museum collections around the world, from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian to the Stedelijk Museum ’s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain in Paris, France, among others.
Charles King, owner of King Galleries in Scottsdale and Santa Fe, has represented Ortiz’s work for more than 20 years and co-authored a book on the artist. “In the art world, terms like ‘innovator’ are used so often that they can seem meaningless,” says King. “Yes, Virgil is a creative innovator, but a better term might be that he is a ‘transformative artist.’ He has changed expectations of Native art in clay through his use of form and design. He broke barriers for Native artists to work successfully in multiple mediums at the same time. He is fearless in using the clay to express his own story and create provocative social commentaries on the world around him. In short, he has transformed native clay into something more tangible and more thoughtful.”
The Aeronauts’ theatrical costumes are part of Ortiz’s ReVOlution collection. Similar ready-to-wear pieces are planned for the future.
The youngest of six children who grew up on the Pueblo, Ortiz recalls a childhood in which storytelling, collecting clay, gathering wild plants and producing pottery were part of everyday life. His grandmother Laurencita Herrera and his mother Seferina Ortiz were renowned Pueblo potters who taught him the craft.
“I was born into a family of artists,” says Ortiz. “My grandmother and mother worked with clay, and my dad made drums on a daily basis. Being inspired by my family, I picked up their work ethics and created my own approach. They never forced me; they only encouraged me. It is with their support that I was able to develop my own signature style and storytelling with my art.”
In 2002, Ortiz was invited to work with fashion design icon Donna Karan. “Being mentored by Donna was an incredible opportunity,” he says. “I was able to see first-hand the entire process from conceptual ideas, sketches, design, cut and sew, fittings, runway, showroom presentation, marketing and sales. It was this experience that inspired and motivated me to create my own clothing line.”
ABOVE Neena, an Aeronaut, is a fierce warrior and excellent navigator. Her red dress is a prototype. “I often drape using wool felt, because it falls very similar to leather,” says Ortiz. RIGHT With a style that is instantly recognizable, Ortiz’s groundbreaking work fuses traditional shapes with bold, futuristic and even politically charged imagery.
Over the years, Ortiz experimented in different mediums, and began combining pottery, fashion, video and film. His studio, situated adjacent to his childhood home, is a telling repository of his various artistic pursuits. Clay pots share space with racks of garments, while large, shiny mannequins showcase his evolution from pottery to fashion design. A bright room is used as a photography and video workspace.
“The geometric and traditional Cochiti pottery images are bold yet simple and present the perfect combination for fabric design and textiles,” says Ortiz, who began incorporating them into his fashion work.
Embracing imagery that combines apocalyptic themes, science fiction and historic Pueblo culture, Ortiz produces laser-cut leather jackets, taffeta skirts, cashmere sweaters and silk scarves. Each piece is branded with his “signature”—an elegant, stylized turkey-track X.
“In the Cochiti culture, turkeys are noted for moving around so energetically and unpredictably that they’re almost impossible to nab,” he explains. “So, the track mark is a reminder to myself to constantly keep everyone guessing about my next designs and to keep everything surprising and groundbreaking.”
While his projects are varied, Ortiz is first and foremost a potter. As King notes, “Virgil takes inspiration not just from his pottery, but from the clay itself. This is a cultural component that is deeply imbued in all his art. A similar design may appear on a jar, then on piece of clothing, and then in a graphic. Each item is different but there is a thread of continuity that always leads back to the history and people of Cochiti Pueblo.”
The artist begins work on a clay sculpture in his New Mexico studio.
Ortiz agrees with that assessment. “Clay is the core of all my creations,” he says. “My work centers on preserving traditional Cochiti culture and art forms. It’s important to recognize that Pueblo communities are very much alive and have a level of vitality that speaks to generations of strength, persistence, brilliance and thriving energy.”
