Sorrel Sky Gallery

“Living in the Southwest, I have the advantage of being around cattle, longhorns, and working cowboys.” — Matthew Grant Raised in Texas, Matthew Grant has always enjoyed art. He recalls spending countless hours drawing superheroes and athletes. His professional artistic journey has included sketching, painting, pastels, photography, oils, and acrylic. Originally focusing on portraiture, he was accepted to The Academy of Art in San Francisco and has an MFA with an emphasis in Figure Painting. Matthew has his own approach to, and definition of, art. He paints in acrylic and oils, using a number of methods to achieve the realistic aesthetic he’s become known for. While focusing on the stylized details in nature in an abstract way, he is still able to maintain a vivid photorealistic look. Believing in taking risks, and that inspiration can be found wherever he looks, Matthew’s goal is to capture and bring to life the images he and others are interested in. Having participated in various collaborative projects, Matthew’s work has been exhibited throughout the world. He currently resides in Texas and Utah.

Oil On Canvas 60" x 60" “Brule is the name of a Lakota Sioux tribe—I chose it as the name of this piece because of the double meaning. This painting was the result of a dream. It’s still unclear what the dream meant, but the most likely answer is a reaction to the sad, violent, and tragic treatment of Native Americans—symbolic of what happened, ending cultural life as they knew it.”

“Living in the Southwest, I have the advantage of being around cattle, longhorns, and working cowboys.” — Matthew Grant Raised in Texas, Matthew Grant has always enjoyed art. He recalls spending countless hours drawing superheroes and athletes. His professional artistic journey has included sketching, painting, pastels, photography, oils, and acrylic. Originally focusing on portraiture, he was accepted to The Academy of Art in San Francisco and has an MFA with an emphasis in Figure Painting. Matthew has his own approach to, and definition of, art. He paints in acrylic and oils, using a number of methods to achieve the realistic aesthetic he’s become known for. While focusing on the stylized details in nature in an abstract way, he is still able to maintain a vivid photorealistic look. Believing in taking risks, and that inspiration can be found wherever he looks, Matthew’s goal is to capture and bring to life the images he and others are interested in. Having participated in various collaborative projects, Matthew’s work has been exhibited throughout the world. He currently resides in Texas and Utah.

Darryl Dean and Rebecca Begay are Navajo artists who collaborate on jewelry designs and fabrication using traditional techniques inspired by contemporary life. Their Navajo culture has a powerful influence on their jewelry, telling stories that allow ancient ceremonies and chants to live on. “As an Indigenous people, we are still holding on to our language and culture,” Darryl Dean offered. Each artist brings a unique skill to the jewelry making process. Darryl Dean is adept at stonework and is one of the few true masters at tufa casting. Rebecca applies her design sense and delicate hand to floral carving, incorporating the natural tufa stone texture into their work. “We don’t mass produce,” Darryl Dean says of their meticulous methods. “The thing with us is that making jewelry is more of an art form. We create each piece from start to finish.” Darryl Dean and Rebecca won the Best of Show award at the 2009 Santa Fe Indian Market. They work chiefly with high-grade turquoise and silver, though also use coral and other gemstones, and work in 18-karat gold as well.

Sylvana Apache is a member of the Navajo Tribe and the Mescalero Apache tribe. Sylvana creates amazingly detailed inlay pieces. Her beautiful copper and silver jewelry are stamped with traditional Navajo designs. She collects old Navajo stamping tools and is always on the lookout for stamps when traveling.

Victoria Adams is widely lauded for her stunning jewelry designs featuring unique combinations of color, texture and materials. Juxtaposing precious metals, gemstones and fossils with plant, animal and human forms, Adams expresses her own heritage, experiences and values. The Oakland, California native is a member of the Southern Cheyenne/Arapaho tribe of Oklahoma where her traditional name is “He On E Va,” meaning “Woman Who Lights the Pipe.” “Sightings of deer, antelope, birds, bugs, berries and my own horses can set one day very much apart from another. Cheyenne religious ceremonies are not complete without the inclusion of plants and animals. We honor them. They are still an integral part of our traditional and contemporary cultures.” For Adams there is no dividing line between a fine, large diamond set in gold and a beautifully crafted pair of graceful silver Southern Plains style earrings. “When I dress for a fine evening in New York or for a night of dancing at one of my favorite pow-wows, the glint of my silver earrings, like the sparkle of a diamond, makes me feel elegant and proud.”

Original. Acrylic on Canvas 48" x 48" Black floater frame

A contemporary Navajo artist, Jeanette Dale learned silversmithing from her mother but developed a traditional style all her own. Jeanette's pieces are recognizable for her distinctive combination of silverwork and beautiful natural stones. Preferring the traditional Navajo style with heavy, deep stamping and high polishes, she still follows her first employer's advice: to leave a mark to show the jewelry was handmade. In 1973 Jeanette was working at the Fairchild Electronics Plant in Shiprock cutting out computer chips with a diamond saw. She was the fastest cutter at the plant with the best quality work. The plant shut down that year and she lost her job. She then made the decision to become a silversmith. "It just came naturally to me," she says. "Soldering was just like I was born to it. I showed my first ring to a dealer and he hired me to make jewelry for him." After nearly 40 years of jewelry making, Jeanette doesn't have to convince anyone to buy her jewelry. She has won top awards at the Gallup Intertribal ceremonial and her work is sought after by the top collectors in the world.