Meet the Artists

Meet the Artists

Turquoise Mustang has spent decades building direct relationships with Native American silversmiths across the Navajo Nation, Zuni Pueblo, Kewa Santo Domingo Pueblo, and beyond. Len's road to this work started in Albuquerque in 1969 when he bought his first piece of turquoise — and that personal, knowledge-based connection to artists and their craft has defined everything since. Every artist we carry is someone we know, whose work we have held in our hands and whose craft we have watched develop over time.

Navajo Silversmiths

  • Delbert Gordon — Master of peyote bird overlay, interior stampwork, and birdseye Kingman turquoise. One of the most respected names in contemporary Navajo silversmithing.
  • Calvin Martinez — Classical ingot silver construction, deep traditional stampwork, and peyote button concho work. Cuffs, rings, and concho belts of genuine heirloom quality.
  • Chris Yazzie — Extra-wide cuffs, bold stone selection, and architectural scale. White Buffalo clusters, Royston turquoise, Dry Creek stone, and Bumblebee Jasper.
  • Jimmie Yazzie — Wide-band White Buffalo cluster cuffs with deep repoussé, dense stampwork, and high-domed stone arrangements.
  • Andy Cadman — Born in 1966 in Gallup, New Mexico, Andy Cadman is a master Navajo silversmith who began working in silver in 1989. He is the older brother of Darrell Cadman and a half-brother of Sunshine Reeves; all were shaped by the tradition of their mentor David Reeves. Andy's work reflects a deep command of classic Navajo silversmithing — heavy-gauge sterling, nine-row stampwork, and high-relief repoussé — alongside a stone sensibility that runs to Black Spiderweb Kingman and Number Eight turquoise. His pieces have been collected by museums and have earned numerous awards.
  • Darryl Becenti — Silversmith and lapidary. Eleven-row repoussé cuffs alongside freeform pendants in rare stones: Blue Moon, New Lander, Kingman ceremonial.
  • Lester James — Cobblestone and mosaic inlay master. Hummingbird Kachina tufa cast cuffs, Royston and Kingman mosaics, and elaborate Mediterranean coral necklaces. Lester works alongside Ella James on multi-strand coral necklaces with hand-worked repoussé enhancers.
  • Philander Begay — Among the most celebrated living Navajo silversmiths. Storyteller cuffs with turquoise, coral, jet, mother of pearl, and 14K gold. Museum-quality, investment-grade work.
  • The Tahe Family — Leander Tahe, Elaine Tahe, and Florence Tahe are among the Navajo Nation's foremost wire work silversmiths, spanning multiple generations. Leander is known for his convex stamped bangles; Elaine for her hand-forged twist wire cuffs, stamped bangles, and intricate mountain and cloud designs; Florence for corkscrew earrings with frosted stampwork. Their work represents one of the most complete family traditions in contemporary Navajo silversmithing.
  • Kathleen Livingston — Born December 17, 1958 in Church Rock, New Mexico, Kathleen Livingston Chavez began silversmithing in 1974, starting with earrings, rings, and bracelets. In 1994 she challenged herself to create higher-end work — tightly set cluster cuffs and multi-stone arrangements in spiny oyster, Kingman turquoise, and coral. She works out of Gallup, New Mexico.
  • Peterson Johnson — A self-taught Navajo silversmith whose work is sought by collectors worldwide. Peterson is known for his signature silver leaf and flower appliqué work alongside large, high-grade natural stones including Kingman birdseye, Number Eight, Wild Horse magnesite, and coral. He has won numerous awards across the Southwest.
  • Alex Sanchez — Born in 1969 of Navajo and Zuni heritage in Gallup, New Mexico, Alex Sanchez is a third-generation silversmith who learned the craft from his brother Myron Panteah. He is best known for his Petroglyph collection — heavy-gauge silver featuring ancient Chaco Canyon symbols rendered through contemporary silversmithing technique. He has won awards at the Red Earth Show, the Gallup Ceremonial, and the Navajo Nation Fair, including Best of Division at the 2010 Gallup Ceremonials. He exhibits regularly at the Heard Museum and Santa Fe Indian Market.
  • Harrison Bitsue — Harrison Bitsue comes from a multigenerational silversmithing family and learned the craft at age seven under his grandfather Charlie Bitsue. He is known for old-style sandcast work — bracelets, belt buckles, bolo ties, and najas cast using traditional Navajo tufa casting technique, producing pieces with strong forms and distinctive hand-finished texture. His hallmark is HB.
  • Chimney Butte — A Navajo silversmith originally from Arizona, now based in New Mexico. Chimney Butte produces a wide range of work including tufa cast cuffs, cluster pendants, repoussé conchos, and multi-stone settings across turquoise, spiny oyster, Bumblebee Jasper, and Carico Lake turquoise.
  • Sunshine Reeves — Daniel "Sunshine" Reeves was born in 1966 in Twin Lakes, New Mexico into a family of silversmiths. He learned the craft from his older brothers Gary and David Reeves and has since become one of the most distinguished Navajo silversmiths in the country. He has been a professional silversmith since 1986. Reeves begins each piece from flat sheets of sterling silver, hand-stamping with an average of 10 to 20 handmade stamps to build the intricate patterns that define his work. Each mark on a piece represents a separate hammer blow. His work ranges from bracelets and belt buckles to silver boxes, knives, and candle holders. He is the only silversmith to have won Best of Show at the Santa Fe Indian Market, which he earned in 1997. His work is held at the Peabody Museum at Harvard University and the Heard Museum. He is the half-brother of Andy and Darrell Cadman.
  • Daryll Cadman — Born in 1969 in Gallup, New Mexico, Daryll Cadman began silversmithing in 1992. He is the brother of Andy and Donovan Cadman and half-brother of Sunshine Reeves; all were shaped by the teaching of David Reeves. Daryll is known for heavy-gauge cluster work, deep traditional stamping in classic Navajo patterns, and intricate drop and wire work. He signs his pieces with D or D Cadman, sometimes with a ram's head hallmark.
  • Roland Dixson — A Navajo silversmith based in Thoreau, New Mexico who learned from well-known silversmiths including the late Kirk Smith, Tommy Singer, Thomas Curtis, and Tommy Billie. His work is defined by deeply stamped, non-repetitive patterns — no two pieces alike — with scalloped edges, high-domed centers, and repoussé. He uses only natural, untreated turquoise.
  • Ray Adakai — A Navajo master silversmith with over 30 years of experience who learned the craft from his father Jack Adakai, a World War II veteran and respected old-school silversmith. Ray's work follows that traditional foundation: heavy-gauge sterling, deep repoussé, internal stampwork, and hand-fabricated chains. He marks his pieces with his full name hallmark.
  • Leonard Maloney — A Navajo silversmith based in Gallup, New Mexico who comes from a strong lineage of artists — his cousins include Andy Cadman, Daryll Cadman, and Sunshine Reeves. Leonard specializes in intricate hand stampwork executed entirely with a hammer and numerous unique stamps. He creates bracelets, buckles, concho belts, bolo ties, and pendants.
  • Tim Yazzie — A Navajo, San Felipe, and Santo Domingo silversmith raised at San Felipe Pueblo in New Mexico. Tim learned the traditional ways of his people from his maternal grandfather, and studied silversmithing with well-known native artists including Chalmers Day and Jimmy Harrison. He draws all designs freehand on the silver and is known for intricate silver overlay work drawing on pueblo pottery motifs. His business name is The Native Silver Son.
  • Tommy Singer — Born in 1940 on the Navajo Reservation and raised in the community of Dilcon, Arizona, Tommy Singer learned silversmithing at age seven from his father Tsinnigine Hathali, a Navajo medicine man. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, he became one of the most celebrated Navajo silversmiths in history. In the 1960s he invented the chip-inlay technique — using small turquoise or coral chips set into channels carved in silver — a method that has since been adopted by thousands of artists. He also worked in silver overlay and incorporated traditional Navajo sandpainting and rug designs into his jewelry. He passed away on May 31, 2014. The pieces Turquoise Mustang carries are vintage works from his lifetime.
  • Adrian Reeves Long — A Navajo silversmith and nephew of Sunshine Reeves, Andy Cadman, Donovan Cadman, Darrell Cadman, and the late Gary and David Reeves. Adrian carries the Reeves family tradition of deeply hand-stamped sterling silver work into his own practice, creating cuffs and rings in the traditional Navajo manner.
  • Aaron John
  • AC Henry
  • Albert Jake
  • Alvin Huglite
  • Arizona Anderson
  • Augustine Largo
  • B. Bennett
  • Boyd J. Ashley
  • Caroline Tsosie
  • Carolyn Tyler
  • Charley Willie
  • CT Yazzie
  • D. Delgarito
  • D. Reeves
  • Danny Clark
  • Danny Henio
  • Danny Romero
  • Darryl Gordon
  • Dee Nez
  • Delores Cadman
  • Derrick Gordon
  • Dorothy Yazzie
  • Draper
  • EL Billah
  • Ella James
  • Fred Guerro Jr.
  • G.J. Nez
  • Gene Nataan
  • Geraldine James
  • Gilbert Platero
  • GL Studios
  • Glen Washington
  • Gloria Lovasee
  • H.T. Jim
  • HaDa
  • Henry Sam
  • Ira Johnson
  • J. Delgarito
  • J. Nelson
  • James Toadelena
  • Jeff James
  • Jesus Espino
  • Joan Begay
  • Kent Lanjose
  • Kevin Billah
  • L. Mariano
  • Leon Martinez
  • Leonard Kee
  • Lynn Yazzie
  • Melanie Bitsi
  • Michael Calditto
  • Michael Mendoza
  • Monica Smith
  • Nova Ashley
  • Pansy Natada
  • R. Bennett
  • Richard Yazza
  • Rick Werito
  • Ricky Ortiz
  • Rita Dawes
  • Robert Delgarito
  • Ronald Begay
  • Running Bear
  • Sam Etsitty
  • Samson Begay
  • Sharon Clark
  • Sheena Jackie
  • Stewart Billie
  • Sylvia Yazzie
  • T. Francisco
  • Theresa Smith
  • Thompson Platero
  • Tia Long
  • Tillie John
  • Tom Charley
  • Tom Hawk
  • Tonya Yazzie
  • Travis J.
  • Tully Kee
  • Virginia Sandoval
  • Vivionita Booqua
  • William Shepherd
  • William Vandever

Zuni & Pueblo Silversmiths

  • Bennie Bowakaty — Minimalist tufa cast all-sterling cuffs from Zuni Pueblo. Split racetrack, four-groove, and scrollwork designs that let the silver speak without ornamentation.
  • Barbara Etsate
  • Bonnie Leekde
  • Chris Nieto — Kewa Santo Domingo Pueblo
  • Deidre Luna
  • Dentin Bobek
  • Diane Othole
  • Ivy Larry
  • Mary & Gerard Calabaza — Santo Domingo Pueblo
  • Mary Tsadiasi
  • Rick Torino
  • Romero Vacit
  • Tammie Johnson
  • Thora Leekya
  • Trista Slow
  • Wilbert Tucson

The Dan Dodson Legacy Collection

A category unto itself. Dan Dodson was one of the most beloved designers in Western jewelry history, and Turquoise Mustang has carried his work for decades. The Dan Dodson Legacy Collection continues his design vision through pieces made exclusively for Turquoise Mustang. Browse the Dan Dodson Legacy Collection.

Browse by Collection

All Native American artist pieces are part of the Native American Collection. You can also browse by jewelry type: Bracelets, Rings, Earrings, Pendants, Necklaces.

Questions about a specific artist or piece? Contact us directly — we are happy to help.