CLAY . EDUCATOR . MURALS . CONSULTING
Laguna Pueblo (enrolled), Santa Clara Pueblo (descendant) & Mexican-American
BIO
Born in Albuquerque, NM, raised in Las Cruces, NM and with family in Laguna Pueblo, Margarita has ties across NM. She is a ceramic artist, educator, organizer, and muralist. She received her BFA with an emphasis in Ceramics in 2003 from the University of Colorado-Boulder, an MA in Art Education in 2008 at the University of New Mexico and an MFA in Studio Arts-Integrated Practice from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 2023. She has been able to travel, participate in Artist Residencies and study under some fierce female artists. Since 2009, she has worked as a lead artist with the ALMA Summer Institute of ALMA, creating large-scale public art mosaic murals across New Mexico. She is currently an adjunct professor in Ceramics, where she can reciprocate the knowledge that has been given and shared with her, to others. She is a partner to a fellow artist and together they have a rowdy 12 year old.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work explores the intersections of time, place, and material through the lens of my Mexican-American, Laguna Pueblo, and Santa Clara Pueblo heritage. As a multimedia artist, I view the act of making as a reciprocal dialogue where the process holds the same importance as the final form; the two constantly inform and reshape one another.
My practice begins from a position of gratitude. From this center, I look at the complexities of identity, history, and built structures to understand how their relationships intersect, merge, and collide. By navigating the tension between ancestral and contemporary function, I seek to reveal how these different parts—history, material, and identity—fit together to make up the whole. In the hopes that we are reminded of our connections through these visual transfers.
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Institute of American Indian Arts- Santa Fe, NM- MFA Studio Arts -
Integrated Practice- Multimedia & Installation- 2023
University of New Mexico – Albuquerque, NM – M.A. in Art Education with Distinction
Art Education, Ceramics & Issues in Native American Education- 2008
New Mexico State Teaching License- K-12 Visual Arts- Level III
University of Colorado – Boulder, CO – B.F.A. in Ceramics- 2003
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Part Time Faculty, Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM 2024- Current
Co-Founder /Operations Director/Lead Artist,
Apprenticeships for Leader in the Mosaic Arts (ALMA),
Albuquerque, NM 2009-Current
Adjunct Faculty/Substitute, Institute of American Indian Arts
Santa Fe, NM 2022-Current
Art/Ceramics Teacher, La Academia De Esperanza Charter High School
Albuquerque, NM 2009 – 2023
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Native American Committee Jan.-current
AFTACON, Americans for the Arts, ABQ, NM & virtual
Performer Sept. 2025
“Tiguex”, Raven Chacon, ABQ, NM
Presenter at National Council in Education for Ceramic Arts Mar. 2025
“ALMA: Mosaics from the Soul”, Salt Lake City, UT
Middle Rio Grande Urban Waters Artist in Residence Feb. 2025-current
Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, New Mexico
Creative Consultant for “Restorying the Heart Place“ Exhibition Nov. 2024-Dec. 2025
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM
Educator Cohort for Jeffery Gibson’s “the place in which to place me” Apr. 2024-Jun. 2026
SITE Santa Fe, Portland Art Museum & US Pavilion Venice Biennale
Artist in Residence, Ghost Ranch Aug. 2024
Abiquiu, NM
Apprentice- “Gather 2022” with Nora Naranjo Morse Jul. 2022-current
Santa Clara Pueblo, NM
“Clay Culture- ALMA” Ceramics Monthly publication Apr. 2022
Juried Participant, Artist Meets History Lab (Kasini House & 516 Arts) Apr. 2021
Albuquerque, NM (virtual)
Artist in Residence, Institute of American Indian Arts Jan-Feb. 2020
Santa Fe, NM
Curator, Mosaics from the Soul Aug. 2019-Jan. 2020
National Hispanic Cultural Center, ABQ, NM
Art Director, Dia De Los Muertos Marigold Parade Committee
Albuquerque, NM 2013 – 2014
Community Arts Entrepreneur, Laguna/Acoma Jr. Sr. High School 2008-2009
Casa Blanca, NM
Mural Co-Coordinator, La Mesa Elementary Spring 2008
Albuquerque, NM
Apprentice /Residency, Madame Fance Franck, Atelier a Rue Bonaparte Fall 2006
Paris, France
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– I thought I saw you yesterday, National Hispanic Cultural Center, ABQ, NM Sept. ‘26
– Ripple Effect, Balzer Gallery-IAIA, Santa Fe, NM Feb. ’26 - Mar. ‘26
– Malinche, Secret Gallery, ABQ, NM Feb. 2026
– Altar, Secret Gallery, ABQ, NM Nov. ’25 – Jan. ‘26
– foundations: land & sky, Hecho a Mano, Santa Fe, NM Aug. 2025
– Restorying the Heart Place, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, ABQ, NM Mar.-Dec. 2025
– CNM Art & Art History Faculty Exhibition, CNM, ABQ, NM Feb. 2025
– Celestial Beings, Lapis Room, Albuquerque, NM Dec. 2024-2025
– L’Art en Fete, Galerie ORENDA, Paris, France Dec. 2024
– At the Horizon, Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque, NM Aug. 2024
– Eiteljorg Indian Art Market, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN Jun. 2024
– Meet Me at the Intersection, Art Works Gallery, Richmond, VA Mar. 2024
– The Heart Show, Lapis Room, Albuquerque, NM Feb.-Mar. 2024
– Around the Kitchen Table, Millicent Rodgers Museum Taos, NM Oct.-Jan. 2024
– Beyond Mastery, IAIA MFA Thesis Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM May-June 2023
– Fired/On, Clay Arts Center, Port Chester, NY May 2023
– Landings: All About Place, Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque, NM Aug. 2022
– Finding the Center, IAIA MFA-Studio Arts Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM Jul. 2022
– Reflections in Clay, Silver City Clay Festival, NM Jul. 2022
– 2D l 3D, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT Jun. 2022
– (re)conceive: works of reclamation, Harwood Art Center, ABQ. NM Mar.-Apr. 2022
– Dusk Dawn, Lapis Room, Albuquerque, NM Mar. 2022
– Many Worlds Are Born, 516 Arts, Albuquerque, NM Feb.-May 2022
– Chroma, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA Jan.-Feb. 2022
– FunctionFest, Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA Jan. – Feb. 2022
– Skull Show, 208 3rd Studio, ABQ, NM Oct. 2021
– New Mexico A-i-R, Millicent Rodgers Museum, Taos, NM Oct.-Jan.2022
– A Taste of Home, Clay Arts Center, Port Chester, NY Sept.- Oct. 2021
– From the Ground Up, Las Cruces Museum of Art, LC, NM Aug.- Oct. 2021
– Ruminations, Light Art Space, Silver City Clay Fest, NM July 2021
– Spring Show, 208 3rd Studio, ABQ, NM Mar. 2021
– Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA Mar. 2021
– Last Call VI, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN Mar. 2021
– No Thanks Given, 208 3rd Studio, ABQ, NM Nov. 2020
– Skulls Show, 208 3rd Studio, ABQ, NM Oct. 2020
– Facing Forward, Light Art Space, Silver City, NM Oct.-Dec. 2020
– FORTIETH, Weyrich Gallery, ABQ, NM Oct.-Nov.2020
– Lip Service, Saratoga Clay Arts, Schuylerville, NY Aug.2020
– Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA Mar. 2020
– Last Call V, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN Mar. 2020
– Regalos, Hecho a Mano, Santa Fe, NM Dec.2019
– A Contemporary Tradition, Weyrich Gallery, ABQ, NM Oct.2019
– Gateway to Imagination, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM Fall 2019
– From the Ground Up XXIX, Las Cruces Museum of Art, NM Fall 2019
– IM:EDGE, Santa Fe Indian Market, NM Aug.2019
– CURRENTS, Silver City Clay Festival, Silver City, NM Jul. 2019
– New Contemporary, Keep Contemporary Gallery, Santa Fe, NM Feb. 2019
– Contemporary Clay Fair, Santa Fe, NM Fall 2018
– Simple Form, Complex Surface, Weyrich Gallery, NM Oct. 2018
– IM:EDGE Contemporary, Santa Fe Indian Market, NM Aug. 2018
– Resonance in Clay, Open Space Visitor Gallery, ABQ, NM Jul.-Sept. 2018
– Only a Vessel, Silver City Clay Fest, NM Jul. 2018
– Surface-Emerging Artists of NM, Harwood Art Center, NM Jun.-Jul. 2018
– Vessel, Fuller Lodge Art Center, NM May-Jun. 2018
– Intersections, Masley Gallery, ABQ, NM Nov. 2017
– Terasu:Illumination, Weyrich Gallery, ABQ, NM Nov.-Dec. 2012
– Celebration of Clay-Ghost Ranch, NM Oct. 2012
– Variations, Weyrich Gallery, ABQ, NM Nov.-Dec. 2011
– From the Ground Up XXV- Las Cruces Museum of Art, NM Aug.-Dec. 2011
– Art Education MA Studio Examination, Masley Gallery Nov.-Dec. 2008
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– Valle De Oro Mural Project, ABQ, NM (P) Aug. 2025
– Breath of Fresh Air, ABQ City Hall, ABQ, NM (P) Jan. 2025
– Juanitas Hornos, Isleta Pueblo, NM (P) Oct. 2024
– Acequia Revilization Project, National Hispanic Cultural Center (P) Sept. 2024
– Valle De Oro Mural Project, ABQ, NM (P) Aug. 2024
– When Stars Align, New Mexico Community Capital (P) Jul. 2024
– Continued Stories, El Malpais Ranger Station (P) May 2024
– Sunflowers across burque (table mural) (P) Aug. 2023
– Valle De Oro Mural Project, ABQ, NM (P) Aug. 2023
– sunflowers across burque (P) Jul. 2023
– Son Como Sol, ABQ, NM (P) Aug. 2022
– #sunflowersacrossburque, ABQ, NM (P) May 2022
– Valle De Oro Mural Project, ABQ, NM (P) Aug. 2022
– Girasoles de Esperanza, Washington Middle School, ABQ, NM (P) Mar. 2022
– Girasoles, ABQ City Hall, ABQ, NM (P) Feb. 2022
– Valle De Oro Mural Project, ABQ, NM (P) Aug. 2021
– #sunflowersacrossburque, ABQ, NM (P) May 2021
– #sunflowersacrossNM, San Ysidro, NM (P) Apr. 2021
– #SunflowersAcrossBurque, 9 different locations in ABQ, NM (P) Sept.2020
– Southwest Siblings, Santa Fe, NM (P) Aug.2020
– Migrating Souls of Wisdom, ABQ Convention Center (P) Jul. 2020
– Untitled, Private Commission, ABQ, NM (P) Jun. 2020
– Water is Life, Las Cruces City Hall, Las Cruces, NM (P) Dec.2019
– Healing into Harmony, ABQ Convention Center (P) Aug.2019
– Meditation & Medicine for What Lies Ahead, ABQ Convention Center (P) Aug. 2018
– When Trees Play, Las Cruces Parks & Recreation (P) Aug. 2017
– Untitled, St. Mary’s Elementary School (P) Apr.2017
– Keeper of Fire, Albuquerque Convention Center (P) Aug. 2016
– Untitled, Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School (P) Apr. 2016
– Giver of Water, Bringer of Life, Albuquerque Convention Center (P) Aug. 2015
– Once Upon a Storytime II, Juan Tabo Library (P) Aug. 2014
– Garden Friends, Clauch Residence (P) May 2014
– Once Upon a Storytime, Juan Tabo Library (P) Aug. 2013
– Pillar of Esperanza, La Academia De Esperanza Charter High School (P) May 2013
– Radiant Sun, Enchanted Rain, Albuquerque Convention Center (P) Aug. 2012
– Esperanza, La Academia De Esperanza Charter High School (P) May 2012
– Feathered Brilliance, Albuquerque Convention Center (P) Aug. 2011
– Cuentos de Las Estrellas, Albuquerque Convention Center (P) Aug. 2010
– Dance of the Matachines, Albuquerque Convention Center (P) Aug. 2009
– Feast Day, Laguna/Acoma High School (P) Apr. 2009
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– Artist in Business Leadership Fellow, First Peoples Fund 2025
– Mellon Masters Fellowship, American Indian College Fund 2022-2023
– Creative Bravos Legacy Award, ALMA, City of Albuquerque 2020
– Honorable Mention, Gateway to Imagination, Farmington Museum 2019
– Functional Award, Silver City Clay Fest 2018
– Excellence in Teaching 2017-2018
– Excellence in Teaching 2016-2017
– Creative Bravos Award, Mayor’s Art Institute, Creative ABQ 2014
– New Mexico State Teaching License-K-12 Visual Arts- Level 3 2012
– Masters with Distinction, University of New Mexico 2008
– American Indian Graduate Scholar, Albuquerque, NM 2007 – 2008
– Institute for American Indian Education Scholar,
University of New Mexico 2005 – 2007
– Women Who Make A Difference, University of Colorado-Boulder 2003
– ArtsBridge Scholar, University of Colorado-Boulder 2003
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Coming soon…