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FIND US IN THE COMMUNITY
During our building closure, we're bringing exhibits out into the community!
APPEARING SOON AT
Tucson Meet Yourself, October 16-18, 2026
Tucson Gem Show on 22nd St, January 28-Feb 14, 2027
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.
Artists highlighted are:
Darryl Dean Begay, Navajo
Alex and Shane Beeshligaii, Honaghaani Nahobani (Navajo)
Althea Cajero, Santo Domingo/Acoma
Jennifer Curtis, Diné (Navajo)
Adrian Standing-Elk Pinnecoose, Navajo/Southern Ute
Pat Pruitt, Kawaika Laguna/Nde (Chiricahua Apache)
Maria Samora, Taos
Matagi Sorensen, Yavapai Apache
Exhibit Team
Lisa Falk, co-curator
Jennifer Juan, Tohono O’odham, co-curator
Grey Garduno, photographer
Lizzy Golden, exhibit designer
Ruben Urrea Moreno, preparator
With support from ASM colleagues
Ruth Jolie, associate curator of ethnology
Gina Watkinson, assistant conservator
Patrick Lyons, director
Special thanks to all the artists who generously shared their stories and studio spaces with us.
June 16, 2026 – January 10, 2027
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, Tucson
A selection of 11 die-cast model cars and other small-scale vehicles, curated from
ASM’s Traditions in Motion, is featured in this fun mini exhibit!
We are grateful to our friends and colleagues at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures for their partnership!
Our Song is Our Strength was curated by members of the Pascua Yaqui community
See the online version of this exhibit.
Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections, was curated by members of the Gila River and Salt River communities
Coming soon to the Amerind Museum in Dragoon, Arizona. See the online version of this exhibit.
Invisible No More! was curated by members of the Hia-Ced Oʼodham community
Showing at the Amerind Museum in Dragoon, Arizona
Closing September 30, 2026
See the online version of this exhibit.
ASM's It’s Up 2 You! exhibit is now featured at the UA's Coit Museum of Pharmacy & Health Sciences!
It's Up 2 You! is an exhibit and digital comic book about healthy choices for healthy living, created by ASM's Head of Community Engagement Lisa Falk with artist/educator Ryan Huna Smith (Chemehuevi/Navajo).
See the online version of this exhibit.
Read a review on GraphicMedicine.org | Read an article by the Coit Museum