Carl & Irene Clark

Born 1952 (Carl)

Navajo (Arizona)

Medium: Jewelry

Carl and Irene Clark are contemporary American Indian jewelry artists from Northern Arizona. Both born and raised on the Navajo nation, they began pursuing the art of silversmithing in the 1970’s. Primarily self-taught artists, they experimented with various techniques and methods to develop their craft. 

They are well known for their intricate and minutely placed inlay (often called intarsia inlay) using only the best gemstones like turquoise, coral, sugilite, opal, jet and various shells. Their work is so intricate that it is often the case that one bracelet will “require five to six thousand stones.”