Jesse Robbins was born and raised in Prescott, Arizona - in the heart of the American Southwest. He is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe and his mother exposed him to the beauty of Native American art at an early age. Jesse studied archaeology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Archaeology gave him the opportunity to explore every corner of the American southwest, often at dig sites. While “getting his hands dirty” through archaeology, he became fascinated with digging for natural stones, especially turquoise. This led him to eventually become both a miner and a silversmith.
Jesse is an owner of a number of mine claims in the southwest, including the Cheyenne turquoise mine in Nevada. He also apprenticed under two Prescott silversmith legends, Randy “Bubba” Shackelford and Jock Favour. From his mentors, Jesse perfected the traditional techniques of tufa casting and hand forged coin silver jewelry. He integrates these difficult silversmithing techniques with his love for natural turquoise.
Jesse’s work is timeless. His silverwork draws inspiration from the Navajo work from the early 20th century. Every stone used in his work is carefully selected to complement the silver it is set within. Jesse is young and we have high expectations for his career as a Southwestern artist, jeweler, archaeologist, and miner.