Artwork Description
Virgil Ortiz – Po’pay
Dimensions: 19.5 x 12 x 17″
Year: 2021
Medium: high fire clay and glazes
Ortiz is developing a narrative 1680/2180, based on the historic and tragically under-discusssed Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Ortiz’s Indigenous Futurist re-imagining of the Revolt includes archetypes he creates to help remember the past and change the future. Po’pay, featured in this sculpture, was the revered leader of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, and was a role model who still inspires bravery and honor in Pueblo people. Virgil Ortiz dedicates his artistic practice to remembering this great leader and inspiring others to learn about the Pueblo Revolt–America’s first revolution. His sculptures bring Po’pay to life in contemporary times, so modern pueblo society can benefit from his wisdom.
Ortiz is resident of Cochiti Pueblo, and is an internationally renowned contemporary artist who is making enormous strides for his own work as an artist, and for the past and future stories of his people.