“Albuquerque’s art scene isn’t competitive. We lift each other up. That’s rare.”
In the heart of Albuquerque’s Old Town, Allen Aragon is making art that tells stories. A potter, jeweler, and digital designer of Navajo and Hispanic heritage, Allen blends traditional symbolism with contemporary forms. His journey into art wasn’t planned, but it feels inevitable. From clay to silver to digital prints, his work is rooted in memory, craft, and cultural legacy.
From working out of his small home studio to being featured in Cowboys & Indians magazine and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Allen’s journey is a reminder that art can find you when you least expect it.
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Handmade Histories
Allen grew up near Chaco Canyon, riding horseback across the land where ancient pottery fragments lay scattered. He would stop, pick them up, and try to fit the pieces back together. Turquoise beads, piles of old jewelry, and traditional weaving surrounded his upbringing. His mother and grandmother were both rug weavers, and although he didn’t realize it at the time, their influence was quietly guiding him.
Those early experiences gave him a deep respect for the handmade. Today, Allen creates pottery-based jewelry using commercial clays that he shapes, sands, paints, and glazes before firing. He then adds fine silver work and sometimes turquoise, combining old-world craftsmanship with his own creative vision.
Allen’s designs feel modern, but their roots run deep. He draws from sacred Navajo patterns like rain symbols, storm lines, and the four directions. Each piece is more than decoration. It is a reflection of spirituality and identity.
He also transforms his physical artwork into digital prints. These aren’t motion graphics, but high-quality designs based on his handmade work. This gives collectors a new way to experience his art while still honoring its origin.
Rooted in Resilience
Allen didn’t plan to become a full-time artist. After high school, he worked odd jobs near the reservation and drew in his spare time. When he lost one of those jobs, he took a leap and turned to art full-time. The beginning wasn’t easy. “I struggled a lot,” he says. “But you get one chance. And maybe a second chance. You just have to go for it.”
Allen remembers receiving the best advice of his life from Clarence Lee, a respected Navajo silversmith. “He told me not to rush. Instead of making a hundred earrings, make ten and do them really well. That changed everything.” That advice continues to shape Allen’s process, which prioritizes care and intention.
Allen opened his Albuquerque gallery in 2007, just before the recession, and kept at it — sometimes working seven days a week for years without a break. That persistence paid off. His work has been featured in Cowboys & Indians magazine and exhibited at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. He’s also received the Southwest Association for Indian Arts’ Malcolm and Connie Goodman Fellowship and Native Peoples Magazine’s Creativity Award for pioneering a new art form.
Tiny Canvases, Big Meaning
Allen’s studio doubles as a showroom, creative workspace, and a place for community connection. “People can come in, watch me work, and hear the story behind what I make,” he says. He’s especially committed to young artists. “I’ve had classes come through, and it means a lot to show them what’s possible.”
When asked what he hopes his art gives others, Allen doesn’t hesitate. “Joy,” he says. “Even just for a few seconds. When someone really connects with a piece, it’s like their problems fall away. That’s what art should do — move somebody.”
One such moment still sticks with him. A woman from Denver wrote to thank him for a bracelet her husband had ordered. It was the last gift he gave her before he passed. “That letter meant so much. You realize what your work can mean to someone. It’s bigger than jewelry.”
“Don’t give up. Do what you love. Eventually, people will see it for what it is. It’s yours.”
Community & Connection
What truly sets Albuquerque’s art scene apart, Allen says, is the spirit of collaboration. “We don’t just compete here—we help each other,” he says. “If I’m out of silver and everything’s closed, I can post and five other artists will offer what they have. It’s not about whose work is better. It’s about supporting each other.” Though Allen’s work has received national attention, he credits Albuquerque’s art community for keeping him grounded.
That spirit of mutual support is also central to his advice for emerging creatives. “Don’t give up. You don’t have to have a degree to do artwork,” Allen advises. He recalls struggling in the beginning, working odd jobs before he took a leap of faith to become a full-time artist. “Do what you love. Eventually, people will catch on and see it for what it is. It’s yours.”
Whether he’s mentoring young artists, creating intricate inlay work, or sharing stories through his gallery in Old Town, Aragon is helping to sustain a creative culture where artists can thrive together.
Find exhibitions featuring Allen’s work on ABQToDo.
Art Every Day Of The Week
When you start to look, you’ll see art everywhere in Albuquerque. Use this calendar to find an arts and culture event near you. Take a friend, bring your kids, or go on your own. Become a part of the arts and culture community in Albuquerque. You’ll be glad you did.
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