Nestoria Coriz

Among the few top Kewa (Santo Domingo) necklace makers stands Nestoria Coriz. Her traditional-contemporary designs and styling incorporate handmade silver, distinctive drop pendants into unique art forms.

Coriz began learning all facets of heishi, bead and stonework from her paternal grandparents, Santiago and Trinidad Pena, at the age of six. Her first task was to buff stones on buckskin floor rugs. At that time, there was little if any electrical power at the Santo Domingo Pueblo and so all jewelry work was created by hand.