Bertina Tosa

Artist Profile

Bertina Tosa “Ice Line” was named after her grandmother. She was born in 1960 into the Jemez pueblo. She was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery from her mother, Mary S. Toya. Mary taught Bertina the fundamentals of making pottery the traditional way. Bertina began experimenting with pottery at the age of 13. She did not seriously pursue pottery making until she graduated from high school.

Bertina specializes in hand coiled traditional pottery. She hand coils bowls, wedding vases and, on occasion, she constructs storytellers. She signs her pottery: B. Tosa, Jemez. Bertina is related to Elizabeth Medina (sister) and Marcellus Medina (brother-in-law).