Harry’s mix of influences is the best of America in that he consumed so much of culture and life, and he gave it back.”[5] Fonseca's earliest pieces drew from his Nisenan heritage.

In 1981 Fonseca illustrated a book, Legends of the Yosemite Miwok, compiled by Frank LaPena (Nomtipom Wintu) and Craig Bates.

The greenery which hangs around the necks of the Coyote Koshares shows their commitment to maintaining the balance with the natural world, an indication of their spiritual significance.

[citation needed] Fonseca's work was part of Stretching the Canvas: Eight Decades of Native Painting (2019–21), a survey at the National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center.

[8] The Autry Museum of the American West exhibited Coyote Leaves the Res: The Art of Harry Fonseca from May 19, 2019 to January 5, 2020.

The museum's press release on the exhibition, included his social positionality as an artist stating, "as a gay man Archived 2022-08-09 at the Wayback Machine and a person of mixed heritage, Fonseca used his art as a vehicle for self-discovery.

"[9] Fonseca's artwork was showcased in numerous exhibitions at prestigious institutions, including ethnographic, historical, and natural history museums.

Some critics, notably John Baldessari, commented that Fonseca's location in Santa Fe limited his recognition as a serious artist, considering it a niche market.