Nicolás Ortiz Estrada may be the most inspired of all the Mata Ortiz artists.  His abilities are legendary, and his creative energy is boundless.  Not only does he sing in the Los Hermanos Ortiz band, he plays the violin, piano, banjo, saxophone, guitar and drums.  As a potter, Nicolás is a sculptor first and a painter second, and his effigy pots are both realistic in form and beautifully painted.  Nicolás learned the basics of potting from his younger brother Macario and from hanging around Félix’s group during the late 1970s.

His work was featured in the University of New Mexico Art Museum exhibit in 1995, and ever since he has been overwhelmed with orders.  His painted rabbit of polished buff clay in that show attracted numerous requests for more.  Nicolás now has made hundreds on order.

Nicolás stands 6 feet,  7 inches tall and is warm, mellow and gracious.  He speaks English which allows him to communicate with American buyers who have requested other zoomorphic effigies such as javelina, black rabbits, eagles, snakes, mice, and desert tortoise.  He lives with his family in Barrio Porvenir.