Biography

Christian Bigwater is Diné (Navajo), and of the Kinlicheeni Clan (Red House-Zia) and born for the Totsonii Clan (Big Water). He hails from Canyon De Chelly, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation.

“I see other [art] pieces outside of the Native American culture, and I see their differences and influences,” said Bigwater before expressing his desire to “expand” with his artwork and craft toward experimental mainstream realms—Japanese mokume gane-inspired jewelry design, in particular.

His family’s Canyon De Chelly ranch impressed upon Bigwater the scenes of horses, the rich, red landscapes of the red canyon walls, the curves in the cedar tree form, and the clear, blue sky of the Navajo Nation. These elements of Navajo day-to-day life are the essentials in Bigwater’s art.