Albert Nells

Albert Nells was raised in Cedar Springs, Arizona and now makes his home in Flagstaff with his wife, Marylou and their four children. He is a self-taught artist and started in leather work. Many of his jewelry designs come from leather applied to silver. Albert calls his signature technique “wire design” with channel inlay.

Albert considers himself a traditionalist, believing in the traditional Navajo ways. He participates in Navajo ceremonies in the “Beauty Way.” One method the artist represents his culture in his jewelry-making is through the use of all-natural, four-color stones that can be seen in each piece he makes. These sacred colors of blue, red, white, and black represent the four directions and four sacred mountains for the Navajo people.

One could consider Albert’s work to have quite the modern, sleek design; while still having genuine cultural richness, Albert makes jewelry with an aesthetic that fits well in the contemporary world.

His children do some jewelry work and enjoy painting.  Albert shows his work at Indian Market,  the Southwestern Art Festival, and The Heard Museum Show and he says he always takes home a ribbon.