Roy Talahaftewa
Roy Talahaftewa is pictured here in March of 2012. Roy has moved far beyond the definition of a fine craftsman. His artistic eye, sense of proportion, and balance as well as his style make his work feel right, whether worn in Paris, New York, or Phoenix.
Ancient images often appear in Roy's designs, which speak eloquently of the history and culture of the Hopi nation. He often combines the silver overlay technique with tufa casting, uses a variety of metals (gold and silver) and often features beautifully set pieces of coral, lapis, onyx, sugilite, pearl and turquoise.
Roy is from the Second Mesa village of Shungopavi, where, watching older silversmiths, he began learning his craft. Selected to attend the Institute of American Arts in Santa Fe, Roy was influenced by the design style of renowned sculptor, Allan Houser. Perfecting his own unique designs since the 1970's, he has become an award-winning Hopi artist, recognized world-wide in his own right. He uses the symbol for the Waterbug encompassed by two concentric circles as his hallmark.
For the past few years, Roy has been realizing a personal dream. He has been teaching classes and sponsoring workshops to assist Hopi artists and craftspeople improve their skills - not only in their discipline but also in the business world.
Roy is truly an artist and a special guy, we are proud to have him as a friend!
