Joel Pajarito

Santo Domingo Pueblo
Silversmith

Joel Pajarito is from Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico. He blends a mixture of contemporary and traditional styles, using a wide variety of stones. His imagery includes horses, butterflies, an petroglyphs which represent Indigenous symbolism.

The artist comes from a long history of generational fine jewelers, which began with his great-grandfather, Valentino Coriz (b. approx. 1890). The matriarch of Joel’s family was Mary Coriz Lovato (b. 1936), who revived stone-in-shell mosaic jewelry inlaid with silver.

Joel carries his family legacy and grandmother’s traditions with his work.