Dancing Between Worlds — Maria Tallchief
$3,100.00 USD
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Dancing Between Worlds — Maria Tallchief
Merit
Jennifer Saenz & Vicky Watson
Category: Beadwork & Quillwork
This beaded portrait of Maria Tallchief was created using Miyuki glass seed beads and hand-beaded in peyote stitch. More than twenty bead colors were carefully selected to recreate the subtle details of the original photograph, including variations in light, shadow and expression. Thousands of individually placed beads work together to form the image, reflecting Tallchief's grace, strength and enduring legacy as one of America's most celebrated ballerinas. The portrait is framed under museum glass. Collaboratively beaded by Jennifer Saenz and Vicky Watson.
2025, Miyuki glass beads size 11/0, acid-free mat board, museum glass
12" x 10.5"
$3,100.00 USD
All artworks sold will be shipped from the gallery after the close of the show. Packages should go out no later than September 18, 2026.
About the Artists
Jennifer Saenz
Cherokee Nation
Jennifer Saenz is a Cherokee Nation artist whose contemporary portrait beadwork explores identity, connection, and visual storytelling through a practice she calls Beadtelling. Working with thousands of hand-stitched Miyuki Delica glass beads, Saenz creates contemporary portrait beadwork that highlights both technical precision and visual storytelling.
She and her mother, fellow Cherokee Nation artist Vicky Watson, have developed a distinctive approach to portraiture together that ranges from highly realistic representations to more interpretive works, blending meticulous craftsmanship, technical precision, and artistic expression through beadwork.
Saenz’s artwork has been featured in Art Focus Oklahoma magazine and has earned awards in juried exhibitions. Her pieces have been exhibited at the Oklahoma History Center Museum, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum and other museums and cultural institutions throughout Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation’s permanent collection also holds work by Saenz.
She serves as a Cultural Skills Teacher for the Cherokee Nation and regularly presents public exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs. She has presented at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and continues to share the artistry of portrait beadwork through Beadtelling, engaging audiences across Oklahoma.
Vicky Watson
Cherokee Nation
Vicky Watson is a Cherokee Nation artist whose contemporary portrait beadwork reflects a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, artistic expression, and the creative possibilities of beadwork. Working with thousands of hand-stitched Miyuki Delica glass beads, Watson creates expressive portraits that capture the individuality of each subject through careful attention to color, detail and design.
Together, Watson and her daughter, Jennifer Saenz, have developed a distinctive approach to portraiture through Beadtelling, combining contemporary portrait beadwork with artistic expression to create works that engage and inspire viewers.
Her artwork has been exhibited at the Oklahoma History Center Museum, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, and other museums and cultural institutions throughout Oklahoma, and is included in the Cherokee Nation's permanent collection. Her work has also been featured in Art Focus Oklahoma magazine and has earned awards in juried exhibitions.
She regularly participates in public exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs, sharing the artistry of portrait beadwork and Beadtelling with audiences across Oklahoma. Through her work, she continues to celebrate the expressive possibilities of beadwork while honoring the artistry and craftsmanship of the medium.