Donna Martinez

Donna Martinez, contemporary metalsmith jeweler, is from the Pueblos of Acoma and Taos. She was born in Albuquerque and raised in Santa Fe, NM.

At an early age, she created things with her hands and had a natural penchant for artwork. Family also had an influence with her artistry. Her grandparents from Taos produced micaceous clay pottery, figurines, and hand carved wooden curios to sell in their pueblo shop. Her Aunt Dorothy, from Acoma, was a self-taught jeweler who intrigued Donna with her creativity and processes with metals and stones. In 1987, she apprenticed for Richard Lindsey Designs, a metalsmith jewelry designer. There, she discovered her passion for producing silver body adornment from its raw stage to a satisfying finished piece.

After working a corporate job and obligations to family, Donna began her longtime dream of attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in 2013. There, she pursued her passion of making art with an emphasis in jewelry. Her evolving metalsmith works involves aesthetics of the natural world and her vision of organic textures and botanical shapes.

Donna earned a BFA in Studio Arts in 2017 at IAIA and continues on her journey of producing one of a kind and desirable metal jewelry. Future endeavors are to show at the MOCNA Museum, Indian Market, Heard Museum, and in local galleries/exhibitions. Donna currently resides in Santa Fe, NM and continues to create unique contemporary metalsmith creations.