Lucy Martin Lewis was born around 1890 in Acoma Pueblo, and began learning traditional clay and firing techniques from her great aunt at an early age. As a teenager, Lucy often traveled to Grants with her mother to sell their ceramic-ware to railroad passengers. Unexposed to artistic forms outside of the sacred ceremonial pots held in the local kiva, Lucy drew inspiration from the shards of ancient Mimbres-style fineline pottery she found walking in nearby Chaco Canyon. Today, she is best known for her innovative and striking black-on-white painting style inspired by these ancient designs. All aspects of her work she did independently: collecting and preparing the clay, shaping, firing and painting. Lucy passed away in 1992.

Summarized from " Pottery by American Indian Women: The Legacy of Generations" by Susan Peterson (1997), 74-77.