Maria Goler Baca

At the age of 8, Maria emigrated with her family from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It was the 1960-70’s’s violent political situation in Argentina that prompted the family to find a safer place to live, work and raise children.  Gustavo and Ana, her parents, were both graduates of the Escuela de Bellas Artes.  Maria was surrounded by art since birth; silver/goldsmithing, painting, wood working, photography, music, conservation/restoration and more. In 1969 Gustavo, was commissioned to restore a painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  The quest for a new home began, Gustavo also traveled to Atlanta, and Los Angeles.  While in L.A.  a colleague suggested that he visit a beautiful little town in New Mexico called Santa Fe.  The choice between the three cities was easy ...the rest is history! 

The Turquoise Trading Company on the Plaza was Maria’s first job.  She was 15.  She attended school in Santa Fe and in 1983 received a bachelor’s degree of Arts and Sciences from the University of New Mexico.  Upon graduation, at the age of 21, she was hired as the Executive Director of Ortega’s on the Plaza in Santa Fe.  After 10 years of promoting, discovering and curating shows for regional artists, Maria started her new career as an independent jeweler.

In 1991, Maria married Lawrence Baca. She introduced him to D.A Harris and many other local silversmiths with whom he mentored for many years.  Ana, then retired, gave Maria and Lawrence all her personal tools and antique Navajo jewelry stamps to start their new business. To enhance Maria’s original line of Baca Bead Necklaces, together they began designing and hand fabricating one-of-a-kind pendants.   For 30 years, while raising their three children, they worked together making jewelry that would be represented at the annual Traditional Spanish Market and in the best galleries, boutiques, and museums throughout the United States and worldwide.

Lawrence passed away in February of 2024.   Maria continues the family legacy that began so long ago when her family moved to what she calls “God’s Country” …New Mexico.

“It gives me great joy to know that little bits of my inspiration will be worn and cherished by many, and hopefully passed on from generation to generation”.

~Maria Goler Baca