Wendell Silas Yazzie

Wendell Silas Yazzie is an accomplished Hopi Kachina doll carver. Born in Winslow, Arizona in 1975, he is a member of the Deer Clan. His father, Dennis Silas, is Hopi from the village of Hotevilla, and his mother is Navajo (Diné) from Dilkon, Arizona. Wendell learned the art of carving and painting Kachina dolls from his father and uncle, continuing a family tradition of craftsmanship. He specializes in for mostly one-piece carvings, enhanced with soft stains and subtle, muted paintwork that give his pieces a distinctive character.