Leo Yazzie has been designing and creating fine jewelry for more than 30 years. Born and raised at Black Mesa on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona, the influence of the land and his culture is a part of each piece of his contemporary and sophisticated jewelry.

Leo uses both gold and silver to create jewelry with a unique combination of traditional and contemporary designs. “The inspiration for many of my designs came from watching my grandmother, mother and other women in the family weaving rugs. They told me their designs came from Spider. Now, I make designs inspired by the patterns they wove.”

Leo’s patterns vary, from a delicate cutout border with intricate detail to bold geometrics. It might be a gold panel with a geometric motif overlaid on a silver pendant; a cut-out stepped pattern encircling a stone; or a lightening shaped band on a ring. Whatever the pattern, the effect is sophisticated and elegant.