Patricia Michaels, of Taos Pueblo, is a world-renowned fashion and textile designer and the CEO of PMWATERLILY DESIGNS. She has studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts, the Chicago Art Institute, with tailors in Italy, and has made costumes for performances at the Santa Fe Opera and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Recognitions include Taos Citizen of the Year Award (2013), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Arts and Design Award (2014), and the 2024 Living Treasure Award from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Micheals is an activist working with Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women; Community Against Violence; American Indian College Fund; Big Brother & Big Sister; Art Smart; and Preservation of Native Culture and Natural Resources.

Michaels gained nationwide recognition as a contestant on season 11 of Project Runway; she won the First Runner Up title and was asked back for Project Runway All Stars. Her Native-inspired haute couture fashion creations have been featured at the prestigious NY Fashion Week and Santa Fe Indian Market Fashion Show, as well as in many museum exhibitions.

Recently, Michaels dressed award-winning actress Tantoo Cardinal (Cree and Métis) in a gown with her signature feather design for Ms. Cardinal’s red carpet international premiere of Martin Scorsese’s new film Killers of the Flower Moon at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Tantoo Cardinal stars in the film with Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi and Nimíipuu), Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert DeNiro.