The story of Mata Ortiz begins with one man, Juan Quezada.

He was a vaquero from the town of Juan Mata Ortiz, located in northern Chihuahua State. As a boy Juan explored the mountains and valleys of the Casas Grandes region; there he found shards of ancient pottery, sometimes elaborately painted. These were from the once great city of Paquimé, which was inhabited around the same time as Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. He wondered about the people who made the pottery, and how it was done. Juan tried repairing some of the ancient pottery, and later attempted to make his own. He located local clay sources, but found that pottery made from pure clay cracks when fired. Closer examination of the shards revealed they contained a coarser material, so he added sand as temper for his clay. Minerals and other clays were used as paint, and Juan developed his own techniques for firing the pottery. Over time he was able to create beautiful pottery; all the more amazing, as he had no formal art training.

With the help of an American collector who noticed his work in a trading post, Juan found that he could earn a living making pottery. He then taught his technique to family members, and later to some of his neighbors, who in turn also taught family and friends. Now over 300 of the town's 1000 residents make pottery. Because there is no long-standing pottery tradition in Mata Ortiz, the artists feel free to experiment with different styles and their work is ever evolving.

Considering that Juan first began making pottery in the 1970s, the birth of Mata Ortiz as an art colony is surprising and has occurred with astonishing rapidity. Today, Juan Quezada is recognized worldwide as a master potter. In addition, many of the other potters have become well known, and their work has been shown throughout the world. Each visit to Mata Ortiz yields new pleasure by witnessing the growth and maturing styles of these potters.