Stone sculpture is one of the oldest art forms ever, with ancient pieces being found somewhat regularly, each one pushing human existence back another 5,000 years or so (the oldest, a carved figure from Europe, has been estimated at 30,000 years old). Today’s stone carvers and cutters use the same general principles used by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, albeit with electricity and diamond-tipped tools. Materials that are common with artists include marble, alabaster, limestone, calcite and many others. One unique aspect of stone works: each one is original. There are no editions—just one of one.
Jared DeCelles (Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana) Like many sculptors, Jared DeCelles works in stone and bronze, but it is his stonework that soars to exciting new heights. He frequently shows with his father, renowned sculptor Jon DeCelles, and between the two of them offer a stunning array of abstract and representational work. somethingweirdstudios
Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo) Known around art circles as one of the most respected and acclaimed sculptors in the country, Cliff Fragua has won a long list of awards at markets and events from coast to coast. Many of his larger pieces are in marble, but he also works in other stones with a variety of colors and textures. He lives and works from the Jemez Pueblo, where his studio, Singing Stone Studio, is located. www.singingstonestudio.com
Shayna Grandbois-Herrera (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) Based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Shayna Grandbois-Herrera offers one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted stone sculptures from her Grandbois Sculpture Studio. “The Jemez Mountains of New Mexico is where I grew up and where I learned to carve stone beginning at age 3 with my father, Rollie Grandbois, my mentor and teacher,” she says. “As a toddler, I crawled around the dusty studio, picking up stone scraps, and filing and sanding them into my favorite images.” Today Grandbois-Herrera creates images of figures and animals, as well as more modern pieces that explore form. shaynagrandbois@gmail.com
Eddyz Shorty (Navajo (Diné)) Bears, hawks, eagles, horses, bison and human figures are just some of the subjects sculptor Eddyz Shorty carves from his stones. His lines are fluid and full of emotion, and he renders the forms in a unique style that is playful. At Santa Fe Indian Market, he brought several stone bears that seemed to shift poses depending on what angle the viewer stood at. The artist is also an oil painter. eddyzshorty
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