INNOVATIVE FINE ART IN SANTA FE AND DURANGO

Featured Artist: Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano

Lisa Holt (Cochiti Pueblo) and Harlan Reano (Kewa Pueblo) are an acclaimed husband-and-wife team celebrated for their collaborative pottery that bridges tradition and innovation. Since 1999, they have been creating hand-coiled vessels and sculptural forms using natural clays and pigments, with Holt shaping the forms and Reano applying intricate painted designs. Their work draws inspiration from ancestral Pueblo techniques while incorporating bold, contemporary aesthetics, resulting in pieces that are both culturally resonant and artistically groundbreaking. Their creations are featured in prominent museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, and have earned them numerous awards at major Native American art markets.

Experience Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, NM & Durango, CO

Step into the collaborative world of Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano, where tradition and innovation meet in striking harmony. Their hand-coiled pottery and dynamic painted designs breathe new life into ancestral techniques, offering a fresh, contemporary take on Pueblo ceramics. Visit Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, and Durango, CO, to explore their latest works and experience the creative synergy of this acclaimed duo.

About Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano

Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano have been collaborating since 1999, creating stunning hand-painted pottery that blends traditional techniques with a contemporary aesthetic. Using Cochiti clay, Holt forms the ceramics while Reano paints the surfaces with distinctive designs in cream and black, often inspired by older Santo Domingo pottery, but more frequently reflecting Reano's personal, creative vision. Together, they fire the pieces outdoors, honoring their heritage while embracing innovation.

Holt, half Cochiti on her mother’s side, comes from a renowned family of potters, including her grandmother, Seferina Ortiz, and her mother, Inez Ortiz. She is also the niece of celebrated Cochiti potter Virgil Ortiz. Holt learned the art of pottery-making from her mother and grandmother. Reano, half Santo Domingo/Kewa, was also influenced by Lisa’s mother, learning the intricacies of pottery painting.

The duo creates their pottery using all-natural materials, staying true to the tradition while pushing boundaries with their bold, contemporary designs. They began their collaboration by crafting figurines based on the traditional Cochiti style, featuring human and animal forms like frogs and lizards, as well as large ollas. Over time, their work has evolved to include pots, jars, and figures that maintain traditional elements while embracing a fresh, modern flair. While Lisa and Harlan used to divide their roles, with Lisa making the pottery and Harlan painting the forms, they now share the pottery-making responsibilities, though Harlan continues to do all the painting.

Their work has garnered numerous accolades, including Best of Pottery at SWAIA’s Santa Fe Indian Market in 2012 and Best of Pottery at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market in 2010 and 2011. Today, their unique, hand-painted pottery can be found at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, where collectors and art enthusiasts can experience the beauty of their innovative creations.

An Award-Winning Artist

Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano have received numerous prestigious awards for their collaborative pottery. Their innovative approach, blending traditional Pueblo techniques with contemporary designs, has earned them top honors at major Native American art markets.

  • Best of Classification in Pottery, Santa Fe Indian Market, 2012
  • Best of Classification in Pottery, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, 2010 and 2011 -
  • First Place in Figures/Manas, Santa Fe Indian Market, 2022 
  • Traditional Pottery Award, Santa Fe Indian Market, 2022 

Their work is featured in prominent museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.

Learn More About Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano

Visit Blue Rain Gallery

SANTA FE
Blue Rain Gallery - Santa Fe New Mexico

Located in the cultural hub of
Santa Fe, New Mexico


544 South Guadalupe Street
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
(505) 954-9902

HOURS

Monday — Friday: 10 am — 6 pm
Saturday: 9 am — 5 pm
Closed Sundays

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DURANGO
Blue Rain Gallery - Durango Colorado

Located in the beautiful mountain
region of Durango, Colorado


934 Main Avenue, Unit B
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 232-2033

HOURS

Tuesday — Saturday: 10am — 6pm
Closed Sundays and Mondays

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