Jamie Okuma

Born 1977

Luiseño, Shoshone-Bannock, Wailaki

Medium: Fashion/custom dolls/beadwork

Jamie Okuma (b. 1977), an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Mission Indians with Shoshone-Bannock, Wailaki, Luiseño, and Okinawan heritage, is a multidisciplinary artist and designer celebrated for her elaborate soft sculptures, intricate beadwork, and wearable art. In 2000, at just 22, Okuma became the youngest artist to win “Best of Show” at the Santa Fe Indian Art Market, establishing her prominence in the art world. Her practice naturally expanded into culturally informed fashion, where she designs couture and ready-to-wear collections, as well as adorned accessories and shoes. In 2023, Okuma made history as the first Native American designer admitted to the Council of Fashion Designers of America.