Kaiahtenhtas Thompson

Beading and quillwork Mohawk Wolf Clan Akwesasne
Kaiahtenhtas Thompson learned beadwork from her mother when she was six years old, and the basics of quillwork when she entered adulthood. She creates large-scale pieces for purses, jackets, and wall display, and has recently added smaller adornment items including pins, pendants, and earrings. She usually combines multiple types of beads and techniques in each piece, resulting in highly textured surfaces, and gravitates to natural imagery of plants and insects as well as culturally symbolic imagery. A recent butterfly necklace includes mother-of-pearl shell beads, pink glass beads, natural porcupine quills, and dyed caribou fur. She customizes all beaded necklaces to individual preferences, so that the pendant sits where it’s flattering and comfortable.
Kaiahtenhtas is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia and plans to work in education while continuing to make art. She’s invested in aesthetic experimentation with the medium as well as in furthering her knowledge of quillwork and tufting. She enjoys creating narratives and embedding deeper meanings into her work. She’s currently devising designs based on Mohawk creation stories in pieces that are nonetheless open to interpretation.