Keri Ataumbi facts for kids

Keri Ataumbi, born in 1971, is a talented Kiowa artist. She is known for her paintings, sculptures, and especially her amazing jewelry. Her art is so special that it has been shown in many famous museums. These include the Heard Museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. In 2015, Keri and her sister, Teri Greeves, were named "Living Treasures." This special honor came from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Keri Ataumbi's Early Life and Learning

Keri Sue Greeves was born in 1971. Her birthplace was the Wind River Indian Reservation in Lander, Wyoming. Her mother, Jeri Ah-be-hill, was a member of the Kiowa Tribe. Her father, Richard V. Greeves, was an artist and sculptor.

Growing Up with Art

Keri and her older sister, Teri Greeves, grew up on the reservation. They were greatly influenced by their parents. Keri watched her father work with metal in his art studio. She learned about the hard work and skill needed to create art. She later said that she and her sister "owe our careers to him."

Her mother managed a trading post for almost 30 years. She taught Keri how to spot good quality Native American art. Keri also learned to celebrate her Kiowa heritage through her own unique art.

Keri's Education Journey

Keri was taught at home until high school. She then went to The Cambridge School of Weston. After that, she studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1990, Keri moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. She changed her last name to Ataumbi. This was her grandmother's name, Carrie Susie Ataumbi.

She briefly worked in stores and then started a landscaping business. At the same time, she began showing her paintings in art galleries. Keri later went back to school. She studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts. She earned a degree in 1996. Then, she continued her studies at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. She graduated with honors in painting.

Keri learned a lot from her teacher, Linda Swanson. Linda taught her to find her own artistic style. After college, Keri tried studying for a master's degree. But she decided to leave to focus on making art. She took a beginner's class in jewelry making and found her true passion.

Keri Ataumbi's Art Career

Keri Ataumbi creates many types of art. Her paintings are often abstract, mixing different materials. They explore the beauty and challenges of her surroundings. For example, she once painted a crumbling wall in Bali, not the lush scenery. While in Bali, she also learned new ways to cast metal for her art.

Unique Sculptures

Keri's sculptures also make people think. She challenges ideas about what Native American art "should" look like. One sculpture is a table with legs made from a mold of her own arms. Another piece uses Pillsbury Doughboy figures. It makes people think about how Native people are sometimes shown in popular culture. She also made a silver handbag for the Heard Museum. It was decorated with gold and diamond stars, telling a Kiowa legend.

Jewelry Art and Materials

Keri's jewelry often starts with a theme. She then creates a series of related pieces. For example, her Insect Series included pieces about bees and beetles. She doesn't always use traditional Native designs. She believes modern Native jewelry can be new and different.

Keri's jewelry often explores how different cultures value things. In Native cultures, things like elk teeth or feathers were valuable. In other cultures, metals and gems are prized. Keri uses materials from both worlds in her art. She loves working with gold. But she also uses silver, platinum, gemstones, buffalo horn, buckskin, and porcupine quills. She mixes different textures, like rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds. This creates a beautiful and unique look.

Famous Jewelry Pieces

One of her necklaces, from her Ocean Collection, was in a traveling exhibit called "Native Fashion Now." This show featured 75 different Native American fashion designers. The exhibit traveled to museums across the country.

Keri's Mommy's Collection honors her mother, who passed away in 2015. She remakes some of her mother's favorite jewelry pieces. One piece was a silver ring that Keri remade in gold. It had a small diamond hidden underneath. This ring and a pair of earrings by Keri were worn by actor Melaw Nakehk'o at a movie premiere in 2015. Another piece from this collection won an award in 2016. It showed a painting of her grandmother and a turtle charm.

Working with Other Artists

Keri often works with other talented artists. In 2011, she teamed up with Robin Waynee. They created an insect-themed jewelry set. In 2014, she worked with Jamie Okuma, a skilled beader. They made a jewelry set inspired by Pocahontas. This beautiful set, using beads, buckskin, diamonds, and gold, was bought by the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Keri and Jamie also created a piece called For the Love of Art. It was inspired by a famous sculpture. Keri and her sister, Teri, usually work separately. But in 2015, they spoke together about art and heritage. This was after they were both honored as "Living Treasures." This award recognized their amazing "museum-quality work" and how they tell stories through their art.

Keri Ataumbi has also been an artist in residence at UCROSS two times. In 2024, she had a residency in North Carolina. Her work was shown at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

In 2023, actor Lily Gladstone wore Keri's jewelry. In 2024, Keri was asked to work with designer Gabriella Hearst. They created Lily Gladstone's outfit for the Met Gala, a big fashion event. Keri made all the accessories, including earrings, a hair ornament, and rings.

Selected Art Exhibits