Manuel "Manolo" Rodriguez is among the most innovative of the Mata Ortiz second generation potters. He began potting when he was still a teenager. He began after watching Juan Quezada says he but really learned from working with Juan Quezada Jr. Since then he has taught many other potters, young and old, and has worked directly with some of the best of the first generation of Mata Ortiz potters.

Early in his career, Manolo was making animal and human Paquimé figures. Then he moved to making medium-size ollas and decorating them with Escher-like designs with birds, fish and reptiles growing out of the complex geometric designs.