Born in 1931 of mixed Santa Clara and Pojoaque heritage as Maria D. Vigil, Minnie Vigil is the sister of Gloria Goldenrod Garcia, Thelma Talachy and Lois Gutierrez de la Cruz. Like her sisters, Minnie grew up learning the fundamentals of the traditional way of making pottery from their mother, Petra Montoya Gutierrez. She began making pottery in 1955 and earned her first award at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 1975.
Minnie specializes in polychrome wares, some slipped in red clay and stone polished, some slipped in matte tan clay and not polished.
Minnie typically signs her pieces as Minnie, Santa Clara.