Michael Naranjo
United States, b. 1948

Michael Naranjo is a Native American, a Vietnam War veteran, and a sculptor who
happens to be blind. Naranjo grew up in the Tewa Indian Pueblo of Santa Clara, New
Mexico. As a boy, he roamed the scenic foothills west of the Pueblo community and
explored the Rio Grande (a river to the south and east). His world was enriched by
the beautiful sights and sounds of the desert country.

Naranjo’s love of sculpting was born at the pueblo, too. His mother was a potter, and
he would help her fix her clay. In 1999, he was named the Outstanding Disabled
Veteran of the Year and received the LIFE Presidential Unsung Hero Award. His
sculptures can be seen in museums and public buildings across the United States, in
the Vatican, and the White House.