Collection: PAT PRUITT
Pat Pruitt, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe in New Mexico, learned the basics of jewelry making from local silversmith Greg Lewis at the age of 15, and a few years later, he met jeweler Charlie Byrd in Paguete, New Mexico, and began learning the basics of jewelry design. He went on to Southern Methodist University in Texas, majoring in mechanical engineering, and after graduating, he worked at a custom steel body jewelry shop making stainless steel body piercings, honing his skills. A few years later, Pat became independent as an artist and began making jewelry and other unique artwork using advanced industrial machinery and materials such as stainless steel (316LVM, 316L material). Pat's work, which seems to be far removed from the general definition of Indian jewelry, has been met with mixed reviews in the American Indian art and craft industry, but it was selected as the "Best of Show" at the 2018 Santa Fe Indian Market, opening a new door in American Indian art. Pat Pruitt's jewelry is called "Cutting Edge Craft Jewelry."
