"It looked like fun — so I picked up some stone and started carving."
— BRIAN YATSATTIE, ON BEGINNING HIS CARVING JOURNEY IN 1989
LATEST PIECES
New carvings and jewelry added regularly. Each piece is original — once it sells, it's gone.
— THE ARTIST
A painter who found his true medium in stone and silver
Brian Yatsattie comes from a family of skilled artisans. His mother, Janta Yatsattie, was widely respected for her intricate petit-point jewelry — a tradition of patient, precise handiwork that clearly passed to her son, though through a different medium.
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Brian first pursued painting as his artistic passion, but in 1989 he watched another carver at work and was captivated.Self-taught from the start, he learned by looking — studying the way stone yields and resists, finding the animal waiting inside each piece.
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In 1992 he moved to San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico, where he has continued to refine his craft and now passes it on to others, including his brother and his son. The tradition extends forward, one generation at a time.
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Today, Brian's carvings and jewelry are collected globally. Coming from a family of jewelers — his mother Janta was renowned for her petit-point silverwork — it's no surprise that Brian extended his artistry into jewelry as well. Whether carving stone animals or crafting wearable pieces, his genius lies in material selection: he seeks out the most vibrant and unusual stones, allowing each material's natural color and pattern to become part of the story the piece tells.
— THE MILESTONES
Early Years
Raised in a family of jewelers. Mother Janta Yatsattie renowned for petit-point work. Brian begins as a painter.
1989
Picks up stone carving after watching another artist. Entirely self-taught — "it looked like fun."
1992
Moves to San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico. Begins teaching others the art of fetish carving.
2000s–Present
Work collected globally. Teaches his brother and son, continuing the family tradition. Featured in galleries across the American Southwest.
Recognition
Represented by Keshi, Penfield Gallery, Zuni Artist Resource Team, and galleries nationwide.
ZUNI COSMOLOGY
Six directions, six guardians — the sacred framework behind every carving
NORTH
Mountain Lion
Yellow · Protector of the hunt
WEST
Black Bear
Blue · Power & healing
SOUTH
Badger
Red · Keeper of medicine
EAST
Wolf
White · Guide & pathfinder
SKY / UPPER
Eagle
Multi-color · Heaven's messenger
UNDERGROUND / LOWER
Mole
Black · Earth's keeper
— WHERE TO PURCHASE HIS WORK
Brian's carvings are available through these trusted galleries & organizations
Each piece is original — no reproductions, no editions. When a Brian Yatsattie fetish is sold, it moves to one home and stays there. Prices typically range from $140 to $850, reflecting both the rarity of the stone and the intricacy of the carving.
A Legacy Your Family Will Pass Down for Generations
What you hold in your hand when you acquire a Brian Yatsattie piece is not simply a carving or a piece of jewelry. It is a living artifact — shaped from stone that formed over millions of years, by hands that carry the knowledge of an unbroken Zuni artistic tradition.
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The great collections of Native American art did not begin in museums. They began in the homes of people who recognized something rare and chose to honor it. A Brian Yatsattie fetish placed on your shelf today becomes an heirloom tomorrow — something your children will ask about, your grandchildren will treasure, and future generations will one day understand as the irreplaceable work of a master.
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Unlike mass-produced décor that fades in relevance, authentic Indigenous art only deepens in meaning and value over time. Each piece comes with a story: the stone, the animal, the tradition, the man who made it. That story is yours to keep and to tell.
Shop directly on this website. Brian now sells his carvings and jewelry right here — no middleman, no gallery markup. Every purchase goes directly to the artist and his family.
One of the largest collections of authentic Zuni carvings (Fetishes) in the world
This is the only nonprofit site dedicated to Zuni artists and their artwork, where all work is authentic and either donated by collectors or purchased directly from the artists at fair market value.
Best Zuni Pueblo Fetish carvings available today.
Is the official retail and tour destination for Yooperlites—a unique type of fluorescent rock
Operated by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person
