Full Name Gerónima Cruz Known for Painting | Education The Studio | |
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Born September 22, 1915 ( 1915-09-22 ) Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico Nationality Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, American Movement Studio flatstyle painting Awards Santa Fe Living Treasure (2004), Santa Fe Indian Market poster artist (2010) Died 2 January 2015, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | ||
Gerónima Cruz Montoya (Potsunu) (September 22, 1915 – January 2, 2015 ) was an Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo artist and educator from New Mexico. She taught Native American artists at the Studio at the Santa Fe Indian School.
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Early life and education
Her parents were Pablo Cruz and Crucita Trujillo, both of Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, where she was born. Her Pueblo name is "Potsunu", meaning "shell", and it is with this name that she signs her work. Her mother was a well respected potter and it was from her that Montoya learned the basics. She then studied at the Santa Fe Indian School with Dorothy Dunn, from which she graduated as the valedictorian in her class in 1935, and at Claremont College.
Career
Montoya taught painting at the Santa Fe Indian School from 1937 until 1961.While Dorothy Dunn was known for developing the Studio program at the Indian School ,1932-37, Montoya was the first Native American to teach painting there for over 24 years.
Death and legacy
Montoya died on January 2, 2015, aged 99.