Every August, during the Santa Fe Indian Market in New Mexico, hundreds of visitors gather in the historic plaza to see—and shop—a wide range of world-class Indigenous art. But that same weekend, you’ll always find a different group of collectors at the Shiprock gallery downtown. What draws them in? The exciting new beadwork pieces by artist Ken Williams Jr.

Williams Jr., who is Northern Arapaho and Cattaraugus Seneca, is a master beadwork artist based in Santa Fe. He unveils new pieces every summer during the market, though he works on his detailed creations all year long. This year, he showed four new works, each featuring his signature sense of whimsy, humor, and a wonderful eye for color. “A lot of people can tell it’s my work by the colors,” says Williams Jr. “And I love movement. I love fringe and tassels.”

Ken Williams Jr.’s beaded “Sweet Nostalgia” necklace is made from cut glass beads, amethyst, Austrian crystal, rock crystal, silver, and pink leather.

Williams Jr. comes from a long line of beadwork artists on his mother Toni Williams’s side. He grew up learning to bead for fun, but chose to study museum studies at IAIA before becoming a full-time artist. It wasn’t until he took a beadwork class with master beadworker Teri Greeves during college that he really started experimenting with making intricate pieces. Since then, Williams Jr. has honed his own skills and developed a unique style.

Today, Williams Jr.’s works are among the most sought-after in the Indigenous art world. His playful pieces shine in his ongoing Yum series, where he applies beads to items inspired by tasty foods—from burgers to donuts to s’mores. (Hungry yet? Us too.)

Ken Williams Jr.’s “Cheese Burger Thoughts,” 2023.

The artist’s sweet creations often come from his own memories. His 2026 “Sweet Nostalgia” peppermint swirl necklace, for example, was inspired by a candy shop he visited as a kid. “It was called Sweet Factory,” says Williams Jr. “It had all these glass candy jars in it.” In the past, he has also beaded everything from ice cream-themed cuffs to popcorn buckets. “I made a popcorn bucket spilling over last year, because whenever I would go to the movies with my dad, he’d accidentally spill it before the movie started,” says Williams Jr.

While his food-inspired ideas are unique to him, Williams Jr.’s embrace of bright, rich colors is another signature part of his work. He has an obsessive habit of hunting for antique beads in rare shades, from pastel pink to acid yellow. “I scour the internet, and when I’m in a different city, I’ll look for bead stores to see if I can find a different color,” he says. Sometimes, he even trades bead colors with other artists. His new S’mores-themed necklace, for instance, features brown beads given to him by his mentor, Teri Greeves. “In our culture, we’re always taught to give and share,” he says. “I’ve been eating Smores at home a lot—making them on my stovetop.”

Ken Williams Jr.’s “Deliciousness” cuff bracelet is made from new and vintage glass beads, faceted bugle beads, 24-karat gold electroplated beads, faceted hessonite garnet, pearls, faceted tourmaline, faceted pink Peruvian opal, and buckskin.

But Williams Jr. does step away from his delicious-looking style from time to time, crafting special handmade pieces that serve as historical pictorials. His 2026 “Honoring Our Beautiful Women” bag, for instance, features a portrait of a young Shoshone woman, based on a real photo he came across. “She’s from the Wind River Indian Reservation, where I’m from on my mom’s side,” says Williams Jr. “When I see some of these old historical photos, they kind of just grab me. Sometimes it’s like they’re choosing me—they want to be brought back to life.”

Ken Williams Jr.’s “Honoring Our Beautiful Women” beaded bag is made from melon shell, coral, and carnelian.Swarovski crystal, vintage and new beads, deer hide, and wool.

Ken Williams Jr.’s “The Many Paths We Follow” is a double-sided tobacco bag crafted from new and vintage cut glass beads, Austrian crystal, white coral, brain-tanned deerskin, vintage metal tabs, and black spinel beads.

It’s this careful, thoughtful approach to his work that inspires Williams Jr. Through his striking use of beads, he aims to tell stories with his beautiful adornments. “All my pieces have a story to them—I never make something just to make them,” he says. The same goes for the traditional materials he often uses. “In our culture, everything has a spirit and is alive,” he explains. “We use deerskin or shells, and we use them as a way to keep them alive, and to honor them.”

The artist Ken Williams Jr.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Ken Williams Jr designed to cover everything from his background to his artistic process

General Questions

1 Who is Ken Williams Jr
Ken Williams Jr is a contemporary beadwork artist known for his vibrant often humorous and deeply personal style He pushes the boundaries of traditional Indigenous beadwork by incorporating modern themes pop culture and social commentary into his pieces

2 What kind of art does he create
He primarily creates beaded art but not just traditional regalia His work includes beaded sneakers denim jackets portraits and 3D sculptures He uses tiny glass seed beads to create large detailed and often unexpected images

3 What makes his perspective deliciously unique
His work is a bold mix of highart technique and lowbrow pop culture He might bead a traditional floral pattern next to a cartoon character or a fastfood item creating a playful and thoughtprovoking contrast Its unique because it makes you smile while also making you think about identity tradition and consumerism

4 Is he a member of a Native American tribe
Yes He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation His Native heritage is central to his work but he uses it as a starting point for conversation not a limitation

Questions About His Art Technique

5 What materials does he use
He primarily uses size 110 Czech glass seed beads which are tiny and allow for incredible detail He also uses sinew or strong thread and his canvas can be anything from leather and canvas to the upper of a Nike sneaker

6 How long does it take him to make a piece
It varies greatly depending on the size and complexity A small piece might take a few days while a fully beaded jacket or a large portrait can take several weeks or even months of dedicated work

7 Does he use traditional Indigenous beading techniques
Yes he often uses the peyote stitch and the brick stitch which are traditional techniques but he applies them to unconventional surfaces and subjects This blend of old and new is a hallmark of his style

8 Why does he bead on things like sneakers and fastfood packaging
He does this to challenge the idea of what Native art should look like By beading on everyday contemporary