Manos Ross Nathan (20 December 1948 - 2 September 2015) was a renowned New Zealand ceramicist and a pioneer of contemporary Māori clay art. Born in Rawene, Hokianga, Nathan had strong Māori and Cretan heritage, with tribal affiliations to Te Roroa.

Nathan graduated from Wellington Polytechnic School of Design in 1970, initially focusing on painting. After his studies, he traveled to Europe, where he was inspired by religious art that resonated with his sense of wairua . On returning to New Zealand, he became involved in carving for the Matatina Marae at Waipoua, Northland.

In the mid-1980s, Nathan emerged as a leading figure in the development of the Māori ceramic movement. He co-founded Nga Kaihanga Uku, the national Māori clayworkers organization, and served as a former chairperson of Te Atinga, the Contemporary Māori Visual Arts Committee of Toi Māori Aotearoa.

Nathan's work seamlessly blended his background in wood carving and sculpture with clay art, creating a unique style that drew from Māori cultural forms and surfaces. His pieces often carried political undertones, addressing issues such as economic concerns for his hapu and the repatriation of land and taonga

Throughout his career, Nathan exhibited extensively both in New Zealand and internationally. He participated in numerous cross-cultural projects with indigenous peoples from the Pacific, USA, Canada, Australia, and Japan, contributing significantly to the evolution of aboriginal art worldwide.

Nathan's exceptional work earned him several accolades, including the Excellence Prize in the 2009 Ulsan International Onggi Competition. His pieces are held in prestigious collections worldwide.

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