Sophie Tenorio-Benall

Sophie Tenorio-Benall is a respected Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo artisan known for her exceptional skill in traditional lapidary arts and bead-making. Coming from a family of distinguished jewelers, Sophie has spent decades refining the time-honored techniques of hand-shaping, grinding, and polishing natural stones and shells.

Her work is characterized by its elegant simplicity and the high quality of her materials. Whether she is working with vibrant turquoise, spiny oyster shell, or traditional heishi, Sophie’s signature is her “graduated” design style, where beads transition flawlessly in size to ensure a perfect fit and flow. Her creations are a testament to the Kewa Pueblo’s centuries-old reputation as the premier stone-cutters of the Southwest, blending ancient traditions with a refined, modern aesthetic.