Indian Art Market 2015: Norman Lansing, 3rd Place Winner

Norman Lansing is one of the leading contemporary Native American Indian scraffito artists. He delicately incises, or carves, his spiritually inspired artwork on hand-molded pottery pieces. Lansing, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, has been the deserving recipient of blue ribbon awards in showings of his pottery in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma and California. Among his proudest achievements is his recognition by the Indian Arts and Crafts Association for his outstanding work. 

The uniqueness of Lansing's work is found in his extraordinary precision and creativity. He layers his paint on a pottery surface and with the delicate touch of a master, he carves through one layer. "If you see the white pottery surface where it's not obviously intended, a mistake has been made," he says. In the unlikely event a piece does not convey the spirituality Norman intends, he will destroy it, concluding the "spirits are not balanced." The elements of nature, buffalo, ram, lizard, insect, lighting, cloud, mountain and more adorn his work. 

(Adapted from a profile written by Mesa Verde Pottery, Cortez, CO)