Artist Statement

I think I am very lucky to do what I like and to be involved in the art world.

My style is different to the traditional Mata Ortiz pottery; I usually work on etched designs, drawing stories of our region and its creatures. I feel that when I paint, I give a life and a story to the pot.

All of my pots are made of white clay and the colors I use are the traditional black and red with small details of yellows or greens. 

Also, I often work on collaborations with my wife, basically on combinations of her tiny details and my etchings. It really motivates me to keep innovating and improving when a person likes my work.

Biography

Hector Gallegos Martinez was born on November the 5th in 1981 in Chihuahua City, México. His parents, Hector Gallegos and Graciela Martinez, are both excellent potters recognized for the amazing quality of their work, which is often collaborative. They taught Hector Jr. the art of pottery in which he has been working for 16 years full time.

Early on, Hector moved away from his parent’s geometrical style of painting and started to work on etched designs. Particularly he decorates using animals finely detailed.

Hector has been recognized at several of the annual pottery competitions in Mata Ortiz with different awards for his own and collaborative work with his wife, Laura Bugarini. Three years ago they were given the Excellence Award at such competition.

His work has been displayed in different places like the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles California, The Museum Of Man in San Diego California, the National Museum of Folk Art in Mexico City and some of the USA National Parks in Tucson Arizona and San Antonio Texas.

Hector has been represented by modern art galleries like Andrea Fisher Gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico, Southern Exposure Mistick and SAGA Art of the Americas in Connecticut.

Quite a mention deserves the fact that Hector is also an excellent athlete, having competed at different sports since he was in middle school and highlighting that he has been Chihuahua state champion for bodybuilding in his category for three years.

Prizes

• 3^rd place in the category of sgraffito in the Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2017
• Excellence Award in the Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2016
• Excellence Award in the Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2016
• 1^st place in the category of sgraffito in the Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2015
• 1^st place in the category of sgraffito in the XVII Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2014
• Award Prize in the Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2013
• 1^st place in the category of sgraffito in the XV Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2011
• 1^st place in the category of miniatures in the XIII Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2009.
• 3^rd place in the category of white Polychromes in the XII Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2008.
• 3^rd place in the category of new designs in the X Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2006
• 3^rd place in the category of new designs in the VI Ceramic Contest of Mata Ortiz 2002