Roy Tenorio

Silver artist Roy Tenorio begins with raw sterling and uncut stones for his rings, broaches, bolo ties, and hair clips. He cuts, fabricates, and finishes all pieces by hand, using the naturally occurring shapes of the stone to determine what the finished product will look like. Although he is the first silversmith in his family, he works with traditional and contemporary designs of his Pueblo heritage, using organic shapes without many hard lines, in a color palette that is often jewel-toned and sometimes surprising, with deep purples and bright oranges next turquoise and coral.
Roy is a lifelong resident of San Felipe Pueblo. He first learned the art of silversmithing in 2009, as a student at the Poeh Cultural Center at Pojoaque Pueblo, where he retrained as an artist after losing his job in the construction industry during the national housing downturn. He went on to work for the Tribal Housing Authority while continuing to make jewelry and experiment with woodcarving, and now makes art full-time in retirement. He has participated in numerous art markets and crafts fairs, including Santa Fe Indian Market and Native Treasures in New Mexico, the Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market in Arizona, the American Indian Arts Festival at the Autry Museum of the American West in California, and the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis.