Michael LaCapa (1956-2005)

Michael LaCapa (1956-2005) was a painter, illustrator and storyteller who was of Hopi, Tewa, and Apache descent.  LaCapa obtained a degree in Art Education from Arizona State University, and took graduate courses in Fine Art from Northern Arizona University.  He was offered and accepted a position as an assistant professor, but he ultimately decided to focus his energy on his artwork. Illustration proved to be a fairly lucrative path for LaCapa, allowing him to support his family without relying on outside employment.  Today, he is best known for having illustrated children’s books, many of which contained Native themes and were geared towards Native audiences.