Cliff Bahnimptewa

Cliff Bahnimptewa (1938–1984) was a self‑taught Hopi artist from Old Oraibi on Third Mesa, best known for his detailed Katsina (Kachina) paintings that documented Hopi ceremonial dancers.

Born in 1938 at Old Oraibi, Bahnimptewa grew up around his paternal grandparents, John and Mina Lansa, respected village leaders with deep knowledge of Hopi history and culture. He attended the Phoenix Indian School and was deeply influenced by his clan and ceremonial affiliations. His works often depicted Kachina dancers as living performers rather than static dolls, with exceptional attention to costume, form, and color.

In 1968, encouraged by Sedona trader Don Hoel, he undertook a three‑year project to paint all 286 Katsina dancers listed in Dr. Harold S. Colton’s Hopi Kachina Doll with a Key to Their Identification. About 237 of these were published in Barton Wright’s 1973 book Kachinas: A Hopi Artist’s Documentary, making his work a significant visual record of Hopi tradition during a period of cultural change.

Bahnimptewa worked primarily in watercolor and tempera on paper or wood panel, producing fine‑detail, color‑rich depictions of Kachina figures. His paintings are valued for their authenticity, cultural accuracy, and symbolic depth.

In 1995, American Indian Art Magazine honored him posthumously as one of the greatest Native American artists in history. His works have been exhibited, published, and sold through galleries and auctions, including notable pieces such as the famous yellow A’hote (Sikyahote) kachina (1973) and pairs of Koshare paintings.