about benita

Born and raised Questa, New Mexico Benita Ortega-Rael currently lives in Ranchos De Taos. She can trace her family ancestry to the early Spanish colonists in Northern New Mexico.  

Benita worked in health care administration for 40+ years in Northern New Mexico until retirement. Although she has worked in acrylics and oil on canvas, she is currently focused on colcha embroidery.  

Benita loves the traditional colcha form, but also creates contemporary pieces. she has been inspired by many teachers of colcha — especially Connie Fernandez of Taos and Annette Gutierrez-Turk of Albuquerque. 

She has exhibited her colcha embroidery in Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque.  She is currently a member of the Hacienda de los Martinez Colcha Group.  Recently, Benita started teaching colcha embroidery, and is excited to pass on this tradition to younger generations so that the tradition continues.  

Through our Emerging Weavers Cohort, Benita aims to learn how to weave sabanilla cloth from Navajo-Churro sheep wool — the traditional cloth coverlet which serves as a backing for the colcha embroidery.