Artist

Helen Cordero

born Cochiti Pueblo, NM 1915-died 1994
Media - portrait_image_113188.jpg - 90123
Also known as
  • Helen Quintano
  • Helen Quintana Cordero
  • Daiyrowsita
  • Helen Quintana
Born
Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico, United States
Active in
  • Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States
Biography

Helen Cordero is known for her "storyteller" figures from Cochiti folklore. Her work helped to revive interest in the craft in 1964 when she sold her experimental figures at the Santo Domingo feast-day market (Charles Rosenak, "The Storytellers," Indians of New Mexico, 1990). Cordero used clay found around her home and fired her pieces over an open cedar flame. She was inspired to create these figures by memories of her grandfather, a Cochiti storyteller who was "always surrounded by enraptured small children." (Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia, 1990)

Works by this artist (2 items)

Helen Cordero, Singing Maiden, ca. 1984, fired clay, with slip and beeweed, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by John B. Turner, 1997.124.149
Singing Maiden
Dateca. 1984
fired clay, with slip and beeweed
On view
Helen Cordero, Storyteller with Twenty Figures, ca. 1985, fired clay with slip and beeweed, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock, 1997.124.148
Storyteller with Twenty Figures
Dateca. 1985
fired clay with slip and beeweed
On view