Born in Morelia, Mexico in 1939, Gorky González Quiñones was the son of sculptor Rodolfo González, with whom he studied. At 23, he worked at the Allende Institute, in San Miguel de Allende.
Gorky was granted a scholarship to study in Japan for two years, where he learned the Shigaraki and bizen-Yaki techniques, and met his wife, Toshiko. Upon returning to Mexico, he establishing a workshop in the city of Guanajuato to revive the majolica ceramic art form first introduced by the Spanish.
Gorky was awarded the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes in 1991 for the revival of Mexican majolica pottery, and the Premio Fomento Cultural Banamex in 1996. Gorky González Quiñones passed away in 2017, aged 77. His son, Gorky González Ono, now runs the workshop.
