Kenneth Aguilar

Kenneth Aguilar (shown at left with Angie Crispin) is a second-generation jeweler from the Santo Domingo Pueblo located in North Central New Mexico. It was his mother, Ventura Aguilar, that passed along her jewelry-making skills unto him, and Kenneth has subsequently been making Native American jewelry in the Pueblo style for over thirty years. In addition to his familial influence, Kenneth continued to expand his knowledge and skills by attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico from 1968 to 1971. He and his wife, Angie Crispin (on the right) both work on the necklaces together.

Kenneth works in many stones and materials, including Gaspeite, Lapis, Coral, Sugulite, Opal, Turquoise, Spiny Oyster Shell, and other items found in his native home of New Mexico. He is very well-known for his necklaces that combine various semi-precious stones with barrel-shaped silver cones.

Kenneth’s color sense is superlative, and he has a real knack for mixing a variety of different shapes and sizes. He makes a variety of necklace types, including delicate single strands, kumquat-sized beads, and multiple strands. Vivid combinations of color and a wonderful mix of materials are trademarks of his wearable pieces, which are collected all over the United States and abroad.