Silversmith Lyle Wright (Taos Pueblo) was introduced to working with silver when his brother offered him a job making concha belts for Buffalo Dancer gallery in Taos. Despite the valuable experience, Wright needed more income to support his family and turned to construction work. Recently, he has resumed his art practice, primarily making jewelry from turquoise and silver. Wright now runs a gallery on Taos Plaza, Lyle’s Creations, which features his own work as well as that of other artists from the Pueblo.

In addition to his own art-making, Wright models for other artists. Reflecting on his experience as model, he says that it is hard for people to understand the true relationship between artists and their models. “People look at it differently . . . and take it in another way. They see the money, not the friendship.”

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