Jack Tom

Hailing from Smoke Signal, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, Jack Tom is a distinguished master silversmith whose career spans more than five decades. Born in 1948 of the Salt Clan and for the Bitter Water Clan, Tom has been creating museum-quality wearable art since 1971. His work is celebrated by collectors worldwide for seamlessly uniting ancestral Southwest heritage with sophisticated, modernist design.

Entirely self-taught, Tom is highly regarded for his exceptional precision in metalwork. He is particularly noted for his flawless execution of 14-karat gold overlay on heavy-gauge sterling silver. By employing advanced techniques—including traditional tufa casting and distinctive sandblasted matte finishes—he creates a striking textural contrast against highly polished metals. These masterful silver and gold foundations are frequently set with premium natural gemstones, including high-grade turquoise, deep red coral, and lapis lazuli.

Conceptually, Tom’s designs are a profound reflection of his cultural roots and personal narrative. His pieces frequently feature intricate geometric patterns inspired by traditional Navajo textiles and ancient Anasazi motifs. Most notably, his signature lightning designs are deeply personal, honoring his survival of a lightning strike in 1979 and the traditional Shooting Way healing ceremony subsequently performed by his father, a Navajo Medicine Man.

An esteemed award-winner at the nation’s most prestigious Native American art exhibitions, including the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Jack Tom’s jewelry represents the pinnacle of contemporary Navajo artistry.