It’s not too often that you come across an artist who switches up their art style when they are successful at what they are doing.

Many people know Linda Lucero Fragua for her beautiful storyteller dolls. She has built a reputation for making quality pieces with a fun feel, and her work is highly sought after and appreciated. She has won many awards.

I mistakenly thought she had always done this style of work until we came upon a collection of incredible pieces purchased in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

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A collector who lived in Albuquerque had a unique pattern of buying Native art. Every year, he made it a point to visit several shows, including the Gallup Ceremonial, the Navajo Nation Fair, The New Mexico State Fair, and the Arizona State Fair. At every show, he bought something he liked. They were often ribbon winners, but sometimes they were just lovely works he appreciated.

In 1980, at the New Mexico State Fair, he purchased a pot by a 26-year-old Jemez woman named Linda Lucero. Whimsical illustrations of deer decorate the pot. It had earned a First Place Blue Ribbon. Back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, the State Fairs in New Mexico and Arizona had wonderful halls of Native American art. These ribbons were awarded for a reason.

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Bonnie, a member of the Jemez Corn Clan, later married Phillip Fragua from the family known for their storyteller dolls, and that’s where the change in style took place.

But this pot, 42 years old, stands out for its quality and unique design. We are lucky to have it!