Robert Whitehair Begay (Navajo (Diné)), has learned art from a master: his father, Darryl Dean Begay. Now 21 years old, Robert is emerging as one of the top young artists in the category. And he’s done it in record time.
Darryl Dean Begay (Navajo (Diné)) and Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Godzilla on Navajo Land, tufa-cast silver box, Bisbee turquoise, gem silica, 8"
Born in Gallup, New Mexico, Begay is a jewelry artist who is turning heads. His jewelry is made by carving and casting into tufa stone, then applying various materials like turquoise, coral, jet and many other gemstones. Tufa stone is volcanic ash that has been compressed into sandstone-like rock that has a unique and unmistakable texture, like rough sandpaper. The Navajo people were the first to cast metal into tufa stone in the 1870s and it is found on Navajo land. It is soft enough that it can be scratched with a fingernail, and yet strong enough to hold the dreams of artists like Robert, who started making jewelry at the age of 4. The first piece was a bracelet he still has today.
Robert Begay carving tufa stone at 14 years old.
Robert’s father, Darryl Dean, also specializes in tufa-cast jewelry and began teaching his son at just 4 years old. He stood at his side, imparting all the necessary lessons he needed. “What I stressed the most was to do the art. Create the art first,” Darryl Dean says. “You have to focus on the art, not the money. Forget the money because if you focus on that then your art will suffer. My uncle, Bobby Begay, taught me the same thing in 1997 when I first started making jewelry. Bobby also taught me tufa cast, too.”
Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), King Bird, 2008, tufa-cast bracelet, silver and Morenci turquoise
Just like his father, Robert is excelling quickly and winning awards at a rapid pace. He won his first award at Santa Fe Indian Market at 6 years old in the youth category. Pictures from that first big market show Robert dressed up with a fedora and posing for photos. His voice was as soft as his demeanor. It’s that humble attitude that has carried him far.
“My dad and my mom taught me to make jewelry. My mom [Rebecca Begay] helped a lot with drawing skills,” Robert says, adding that both his parents have been instrumental in his learning. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) also helped tremendously as Robert aced the graduate jeweler’s program in 2024. This is a highly recommended class that has a strong emphasis on faceted stone setting, design, fabrication and many other aspects of jewelry making geared toward professional bench jewelers. This type of education is not common with Native Americans. Most are self-taught or mentored by one person. Robert has a penchant for acquiring new knowledge about what interests him. “I learned so much there; I am grateful,” he says.
Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)) tufa casting Godzilla on Navajo Land.
Robert has two older siblings, Matthew Herman Begay and Nathan Dean Begay, both in their mid 20s. They both make jewelry. “Nathan recently finished a Star Wars-themed bracelet. Matthew just finished a cool scorpion design on a bracelet,” Robert says. “I recently made an eagle buckle with inlay around the sides. The methods to make these pieces are all tufa cast.” The family is united in skill and hard work.
“My mother and father mentored me mostly, but I did a few workshops with Norbert Peshlakai, where I learned metal stamping and I also learned to use steel wire and hammered it into a bracelet,” Robert adds. “I also apprenticed with Ryan Singer for painting. Ryan shared a lot of what he learned in his BFA in that mentorship.” Robert also sketches, a skill he developed from his mother. Asked if he has had other jobs to bring in money, the artist scoffs. “I have done art my entire life,” he says. “I just finished an inlaid snake buckle. I carved it [and] my dad helped me put it together. Charles Loloma was the inspiration for his design.”
Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), American Sioux, 2023, silver and Lone Mountain turquoise
Asked if he could study under other artists, Robert rattles off several names. “Yes, it would be good to work with McKee Platero, who does stamping work. [And] Lee Yazzie, Richard Chavez. Those artists are great,” Robert says. “When it comes to Native American style of jewelry and if I will always do that, I think that is a hard question to answer. It’s been on my mind. My dad has always told me not to limit yourself by putting yourself in a box and not doing just Native American work and not just tufa cast either. He said learn new techniques and new designs.”
Robert continues: “I get inspired easily. I do struggle at times, too. There are times when my mind takes off fast and gets me thinking about a new piece. That is where some of my best designs come from. I get lost thinking about it.”
Darryl Dean Begay (Navajo (Diné)) creating tufa-cast jewelry.
At just 21 years old, the young jeweler already has devoted fans and collectors. Some of his work sells via social media, and others through his galleries such as Waddell Gallery, Palace Jewelers at Manitou Galleries, Faust Gallery, Garland’s, Tanner’s Indian Arts and Winfield Trading. “My masterpieces are selling well. The other simpler pieces sell very fast, I am glad to say,” Robert says. “I make about one piece a week right now because I take a lot of time to do them because I want to have the best quality possible. Plain rings with no stones go very fast so [no] more than one a week that way…I cast all my own work, but I get help from dad for the masterpieces. The smaller stuff I can do really well, but the larger masterpieces my dad knows all the requirements for a successful casting.”
Darryl Dean Begay (Navajo (Diné)) and Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Godzilla on Navajo Land, tufa-cast silver box, Bisbee turquoise, gem silica, 8"
One of his newest works is a piece he named Godzilla on Navajo Land. “I went to see the Godzilla movie with my family, and I thought it would be cool to make a Godzilla piece and inlay his fire beam with turquoise. Then I thought of the Thunderbird. In Navajo mythology, the bird has lightning in its wing,” Robert says of the piece. “I also did Kong because Godzilla and Kong are rivals and a famous duo. I did not want Kong to interfere with Godzilla’s battle. I added Navajo Giant, a destructive giant. I did 100 percent of that tufa carving for this piece except for the lid. I drew a sketch and sent it to my dad, but he made it his own in my design style. Dad also carved Godzilla’s head inside the box. Dad did the feet, too.”
Darryl Dean Begay (Navajo (Diné)) and Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Lightning Thrower, 2024, lapis lazuli, coral, walrus tusk ivory, Lone Mountain turquoise and black jade
A 17-inch tufa stone was used to make the casting to complete the piece. It took three weeks to carve it at five hours a day. “It’s a box with an airtight lid,” Darryl Dean says proudly. The box is quite a story in itself. “The story of the Thunderbird is a Navajo legend. Giant birds came and they called these birds Thunderbirds during a huge thunderstorm, and this is how they got their name,” Darryl Dean says. It is said that Shiprock, a large rock just north of Gallup, was named after a Thunderbird or pterodactyl.
Darryl Dean Begay (Navajo (Diné)) and Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Freedom Reign, Apache Blue turquoise and Mediterranean red coral
“The Monster Slayer is the older Hero Twin, and the younger one was named Born for Water. They eradicated giants and monsters to help keep the Navajo people safe,” Darryl Dean says. “On a lot of what Robert is doing now is early in the pictures I have. I taught him to carve into the blanks. Better quality figures came quickly. A lot of what he has learned from me has been observation. He has done a Navajo golfer that transformed him from merely etching tufa to quality carving with this piece.”
Asked about his son following in his footsteps, Darryl Dean says, “I have joy to carry on what we have learned as tufa-cast artists. He will accomplish more than myself. [I’m] proud, happy…so happy! It makes me feel like…Well, here is one thing I can tell you, I did not push him. I let him learn on his own. I wanted it not to be forced and, most of all, I wanted it to be him that wanted it. Robert will become better than I am, I can easily see this, and I am so proud of him.”
Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Whitehair Bolo Tie, 2018, Lone Mountain turquoise. Inspired by the artist’s great-grandfather, Whitehair Begay.
Darryl Dean and Robert Begay will be at Booth K-17 at the Heard Indian Fair & Market. —
John F. Heusler G. G. (GIA) is a jewelry designer and lapidary who has been cutting all his own gemstones for 55 years. He owned a fine jewelry store in St. Louis for 31 years and is now retired. Today he helps mentor new makers as much as he can.
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