Mary Juan

Native American, (1892–1977)

Mary Juan was an original member of the Maricopa Pottery Cooperative (1937–1941), a group of nineteen Maricopa women who banded together to build a retail market for their work and establish relationships with galleries, dealers, museums, and collectors. Juan and her cousin, the famous Maricopa potter Ida Redbird, were key leaders of the revival movement. Despite strong support and interest in their work, the cooperative was unable to achieve its long-term goals. Unlike Pueblo pottery, Maricopa pottery has struggled to flourish and today is considered in danger of disappearing as a living art form.