Kathleen Collateta

Kathleen Collateta was born into Jemez Pueblo, daughter of Hopi kachina carver Tom Collateta Sr. and Antonita Collateta of Jemez in 1969. As a teenager she began learning to make traditional pottery with her grandmother, Sara Collateta. She learned to mold and shape her pieces with Jemez clay. Then Sara taught her all the details of Jemez designs.

These days, Kathleen digs her clay at Hopi and uses mostly Hopi designs. Her favorite design is the parrot, with plenty of feathers: "The birds take our prayers up to the higher spirit," she says.

Because there are two Kathleen Collateta's making pottery, she signs her works K. Collateta with a sun symbol above her name (as she is a member of the Jemez Sun Clan). She usually works together with her husband, Adrian Sandia. She has taught all of their kids how to make pottery, too.