Michael Kanteena

Michael Kanteena (born 1959) is a highly acclaimed contemporary potter from Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico. While he was raised surrounded by the traditional pottery of his community, Kanteena pursued formal art education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Eastern New Mexico University. This academic background, combined with his deep indigenous heritage, inspired a lifelong fascination with the ancient ceramics of the Americas—specifically the pre-Columbian, Anasazi (Ancestral Puebloan), Mimbres, and Chacoan cultures.

Kanteena has carved out a highly unique and respected niche in the Native American art world. Instead of creating standard contemporary Laguna polychrome wares, he dedicates his career to reviving and reimagining ancient forms, particularly complex effigy vessels and historic plainwares. He is famous for his specialized antiquing process, which meticulously replicates the worn, matte patinas of ancient artifacts. An award-winning regular at the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair, Kanteena’s work is celebrated by collectors for its historical reverence, sculptural brilliance, and authentic ancient feel.