Kanteena, Michael

Michael Kanteena was born into Laguna Pueblo in 1959. He’s said he’s always had an interest in pottery, fueled by the potsherds he’s found all over the Laguna landscape.

Michael graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a BA in Fine Arts in 1981. Then he returned to Laguna and began recreating historic and prehistoric styles of pottery and decorating them with design motifs from the prehistoric Anasazi and Mimbres cultures. Many of his creations are almost indistinguishable from pottery made 500 or more years ago.

He says his inspiration comes from Mesa Verde, Chaco, Mimbres and other Ancestral Puebloan pottery. He merges the influences of past and present into his contemporary creations, thereby making his work very distinct from other pueblo potters. Michael also creates distinctive pottery inspired by katsina dolls and masks.

Michael’s work is shown at the Maxwell Museum in Albuquerque and the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe. He has participated in shows like the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, earning ribbons in almost every show. The Heard has even honored him with the Wingspread Collector’s Guide Award of Excellence and the prestigious Judge’s Choice ribbon.

These days, after his studies of multiple ancient cultures, he may create a contemporary effigy based on a Toltec theme and decorate it with Chacoan designs, or a contemporary canteen with a bighorn ram effigy spout and the whole decorated with Mimbres designs.