Tradition and Innovation, the Legacy of Julian Lovato

   

This will be a stunning tribute to Lovato, the late renowned Pueblo jeweler, and will include over 70 pieces, including a variety of rings, belt buckles, bolos, bracelets, pendants, earrings, and necklaces.

Julian Lovato was born in the Santo Domingo Pueblo on January 30, 1925, and is one of the most highly regarded pueblo jewelers of the 20th century. Utilizing ever-changing designs and exceptional stones, he created a three-dimensional look, which he called “raised dimensional jewelry design.”

Julian first became interested in making jewelry at the young age of 14 while polishing, filing, and making bezels and small decorative parts for larger pieces for use by his father and grandfather.

He was drafted to the U.S. Army in 1940 and upon his return from the war he and his wife Marie settled in San Juan Pueblo. He was hired to at the Thunderbird Shop by renowned Italian silversmith and owner, Frank Patania in Santa Fe.

In 1971 Julian and his wife, Marie, moved back to the Santo Domingo Pueblo and began exhibiting at various art shows. He won many awards, but the one he was most proud of was the SWAIA Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received in 2002.

In 2003, the Lovato home was set on fire by an arsonist while Julian and Marie were sleeping. Luckily they were awakened and saved but the home, his shop, and his museum pieces were destroyed. Everything they acquired and created over more than fifty years was gone. At seventy-eight years old, Julian began rebuilding his home and shop with the help of a SWAIA auction and a tribal grant. He returned to work and exhibited his later pieces at Santa Fe Indian Market. He died in 2018 at the age of 93.

Aug 13 (6–9pm) & Aug 14-16 (11am-5pm) | Entrance included with show admission
Only open during The Antique American Indian Art Show

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