Arizona State Museum

Forge + Future: Contemporary Native American Jewelers.
A new Arizona State Museum exhibit at Tucson Meet Yourself

Who defines Native American jewelry?
What confines Native American jewelers’ expression?

Arizona State Museum explored these questions during studio visits and discussions with contemporary Southwest Native metalsmiths. The artists shared their creative lives and constantly evolving designs and techniques. Inspired by the world they live in, which is both traditional and contemporary, nothing is limiting their imaginations. Today, Native jewelers are experimenting with expressing themselves, going beyond expected designs, materials, and fabrication methods, or embracing them in new ways.

This exhibit brings their words and artistry to you by showcasing the studio life of nine contemporary jewelry artists. See photographs of their studios, hands at work, and of their jewelry. Consider their thoughts on what is Native art, their inspiration and process for designing and fabricating jewelry pieces, how jewelry affects the wearer, art as a business, learning and teaching, and women working in a traditionally male craft. Try your hand at making a stamped design using traditional Navajo jewelry stamps.