Karen Ann Hoffman is a nationally acclaimed bead artist whose work revitalizes and redefines the traditional art of Haudenosaunee raised beadwork, a distinct three-dimensional beading technique practiced by the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, particularly the Seneca people to whom Hoffman belongs. Her intricate, vibrant beadwork is rooted in the centuries-old practices of her …
Tarina Tarantino is a Los Angeles-based jewelry designer whose kinetic beaded creations have redefined the possibilities of contemporary fashion accessories, blurring the line between pop culture spectacle and high-art ornamentation. Known for her vividly colored, over-the-top aesthetic and an unapologetic embrace of glamour, Tarantino’s work harnesses movement—both visual and literal—as a core element of her …
Mark Nansen is a singular voice in the world of bead art, known for fusing meticulous craftsmanship with sharp political satire and irreverent humor. With a background in both studio art and political science, Nansen approaches beadwork not just as a decorative medium but as a vehicle for critique, parody, and subversion. His work draws …
Britta Marakatt‑Labba is a renowned Sámi artist whose work spans embroidery, beadwork, and textile art, offering a luminous and politically resonant vision of Sámi cosmology, history, and resistance. Her work, deeply embedded in the cultural traditions of the indigenous Sámi people of northern Scandinavia, blends meticulous handcraft with mythic storytelling. Among the many recurring motifs …
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Yang Xing is a contemporary Chinese artist whose groundbreaking work merges traditional Miao silver ornamentation with intricate beadwork, forging a singular fusion of heritage craftsmanship and modern artistic sensibility. Her practice, rooted in the cultural traditions of the Miao ethnic minority—renowned for their elaborate silver jewelry—reinterprets centuries-old techniques through the meticulous application of glass beads, …
Javier Bautista is a master bead artist whose mythic masks serve as luminous portals into the spiritual and ancestral dimensions of Mexico’s indigenous heritage. Rooted in the ancient traditions of the Wixárika people—more commonly known as the Huichol—Bautista’s work extends and elevates the ceremonial function of beading into a refined contemporary art form. Each of …
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Manon Richard is a Canadian bead artist whose work merges fine jewelry design with a touch of scientific magic, transforming simple forms into glowing vessels of wonder. Known internationally for her use of luminous pigments and light-reactive materials, Richard has carved a unique space in the world of beaded art by infusing her creations with …
Ruth Bellinger’s beaded botanical jewelry exists at the intersection of fine art, natural science, and miniature sculpture, capturing the intricacy and delicacy of the plant world with an astonishing level of realism and reverence. Drawing inspiration from the Victorian tradition of botanical illustration and the lush diversity of global flora, Bellinger has forged a path …
Jan Huling’s beaded objects possess a mesmerizing power that challenges the boundaries between surface and structure, drawing viewers into intricate, hypnotic patterns that blur the lines between sculpture, textile, and illusion. With a background in textile design and toy development, Huling brings a unique sensibility to the world of contemporary beadwork—one that fuses the playfulness …
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Joyce J. Scott is a pioneering American artist whose mastery of beadwork has not only transformed the perception of the medium within contemporary art but has also carved a visceral space for beads as powerful instruments of social commentary. Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1948, Scott was raised in a family of makers, her mother, …
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