Holt, Lisa and Reano, Harlan

Half Cochiti Pueblo (on her mother’s side), Lisa Holt was born into a well-known multi-generational family of potters in 1980. Her grandmother is Seferina Ortiz, her mother Inez Ortiz and her uncle Virgil Ortiz.

Lisa has been making pottery since 1999 and specializes in creating human and animal forms, following long Cochiti tradition. These days she’s been making large beautiful ollas and other-worldly dragons and other creatures. She makes all her pieces the traditional way: by hand-coiling the forms from materials she collects and processes herself.

Born in 1978, Harlan Reano is from Santo Domingo Pueblo. He uses Lisa’s elegant forms and figures as a three-dimensional “canvas” for his boldly painted designs that range from traditional Kewa geometrics to stylized graffiti patterns. Together, they complete the process by ground firing their innovative and dynamic creations.

Since their debut in 2001, Lisa and Harlan have pushed the shape and design envelope of contemporary Pueblo pottery with their work. Harlan began to revive historic Santo Domingo designs in 2003 and by 2004 he was creating more elaborate “twisted” shapes and figures of his own design. By 2008, they were considered “rising stars” among Native American potters and were beginning to earn some major awards.

They have continued earning awards and accolades for their pottery every year since, in addition to being featured in new books and magazines on contemporary Pueblo pottery almost every year. Their innovations in design and form have captivated many traders and collectors and continue to inspire other artists.

Examples of Lisa and Harlan’s work are on display in museums around the world (National Museum of the American Indian, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Peabody Essex Museum) and continues to expand the national and international audience for Pueblo pottery.

A while ago we asked Harlan for a count of the ribbons they’ve earned and his response: “I don’t know, quite a few, and we get more every year.”

Some Exhibits that featured work by Lisa and Harlan

• Synergy: a Collaboration in Glass. Blue Rain Gallery. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 16, 2019- August 31, 2019. Note: collaboration between Preston Singletary and Harlan Reano
• Preston Singletary: Artist, Innovator, Collaborator. Blue Rain Gallery. Santa Fe, New Mexico. Opened August 6, 2019. Note: includes collaborative works by Preston Singletary with Harlan Reano, Jody Naranjo, and Tammy Garcia
• Super Heroes: Art! Action! Adventure! Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. May 16 – August 23, 2016

Some Awards earned by Lisa and Harlan

• 2023 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification IIB, Category 603 – Painted polychrome pottery in the style of Cochiti, Santo Domingo, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe, San Juan, Pojoaque, Any form, First Place
• 2023 Smithsonian Craft Fair, Washington, DC, Best in Show
• 2019 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Figurative, Native Clay, Hand Built: First Place. Awarded for collaborative artwork: “Unicorn”
• 2018 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Figurative, Native Clay, Hand Built: First Place. Awarded for collaborative artwork: “Jackalope Figure”
• 2018 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market: Judge’s Award – Raymond Yazzie. Awarded for collaborative artwork: “Jackalope Figure”
• 2017 Santa Fe Indian Market: Classification II – Pottery, Division B – Traditional, Category 603 – Painted polychrome pottery in the style of Cochiti, Santo Domingo, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe, San Juan, Pojoaque, any form: Honorable Mention
• 2017 Santa Fe Indian Market: Classification II – Pottery, Division B – Traditional, Category 605 – Figures/Manas: First Place
• 2017 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II Pottery, Division D – Figurative, Native Clay, Hand Built: First Place. Awarded for collaborative artwork: “Dragon Figure”
• 2011 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. Class. II – Pottery, Best of Class;
  – Div. A – Traditional, native clay, hand built, painted, First Place;
  – 2 Judge’s Choice Awards
• 2010 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. Class. II – Pottery, Best of Class;
  – Div. A – Traditional, native clay, hand built, painted, First Place;
  – Div. D – Traditional, native clay, hand built, figurative, Second Place
• 2007 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division A – Traditional, native clay, hand built, painted: Honorable Mention
• 2006 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division D – Traditional – Native clay/hand built/figurative effigies, canteens, plates, storytellers, nativity scenes: First Place
• 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market. Special Award, Indian Arts Fund Award for Excellence in Traditional Arts;
  Class. II – Pottery, Div. E – Traditional Pottery, jars, including wedding jars, Cat. 1204 – Jars, Santo Domingo or Cochiti, Second Place;
  – Div. G – Non-traditional pottery, using traditional materials and techniques, any form or design, Cat. 1405 – Figures, all one piece, can include storyteller bowls, First Place