Phyllis Chavez

Phyllis Chavez was raised southwest of Santa Fe in New Mexico’s Santo Domingo Pueblo. As a child she became her village’s first female silversmith. At an early age she went beyond simple shell and turquoise work to create sterling accessories and silver bead necklaces. Her beautiful bead necklaces won first prize at both the Santa Fe and Dayton Indian Markets in 1992. With an emphasis on silver and lapidary she describes her current work as a collaboration of traditional and contemporary design.

Phyllis designed and created all of her stamping tools, which include some Navajo concho or rug patterns as well as cloud, water, vegetation, and other symbols from nature common to Santo Domingo heritage. Phyllis also features contemporary abstract symbols of her own design, believing Native Art should not be static. Within this modern category is her hallmark signature stamp, which appears on every piece she sells; it is an abstracted butterfly motif carrying her initials as the wings.

Ms. Chavez is a graduate of the University of New Mexico, with a Bachelors Degree in American Studies. She also holds an Associates degree in museum studies from the Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe.