‘The next Charles Loloma or Jesse Monongya’: Meet fifth-generation jeweler Isiah M. Begay
Submitted | Isiah M. Begay
Isiah Begay from Round Rock, Ariz. He is Tsé?jíkiní and born for Yé’ii Dine’é Táchii’nii. His maternal grandfather’s clan is unknown, and his paternal grandfather is Nát’oh Dine’é.
By Nicholas House
Navajo Times
BEE’ELDÍÍDAHSINIL – By 12, he had already created his first ring, which he entered in the 68th Annual Navajo Nation Fair juried art show, in which he earned a second-place ribbon.
Submitted | Isiah M. Begay
An almost completed 18k rose gold pendant crafted by Isiah M. Begay. The piece is inlaid with Lone Mountain turquoise, Japanese coral, and black opal. The pendant’s centerpiece is a captivating Lander Blue turquoise cabochon.
This early success was a harbinger of Isiah M. Begay’s remarkable career. He used the prize money to buy school shoes for his brothers, a testament to his generosity and sense of responsibility.
Begay, 23, a fifth-generation jeweler, is elevating fine artistry. His meticulously crafted geometric lapidary inlay designs – reminiscent of the vibrant patterns seen through a kaleidoscope – are more than adornments. They are narratives of heritage, precision, and innovation.
He works with some of the rarest and most exquisite materials available, yielding Diné jewelry to a realm of modern mastery.
Begay is from Round Rock, Arizona, where he grew up. Born into a family with a rich legacy of metalsmithing, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Philander Begay Sr., and his mother, Shanibah Begay.
Isiah Begay is Tséńjíkiní and born for Yé’ii Dine’é Táchii’nii. His maternal grandfather’s clan is unknown, and his paternal grandfather is Nát’oh Dine’é. He now resides in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow