Lee Charley
Son of a silversmith, Lee Charlie lives on the eastern edge of the Navajo land. Lee was born May 13, 1968 and raised in Thoreau, NM where he still resides with his wife and children.
Lee was taught the art of silversmithing by his mother, Nellie Charley, in 1984 when he started helping her in her shop. Nine years later Lee ventured out on his own and began making jewelry. He has been an active silversmith since 1985.
He has a distinctive style of combining silver, stamping and shadowbox-set stones. Lee is especially known for his graceful dragonfly pin/pendants and necklaces. Butterflies are also favored subject. Usually, the silver has been brushed, for an antique look. Instead of large stones, he prefers a series of small round stones, whatever they may be. He is as comfortable and competent recreating traditional vintage Native jewelry as he is creating new contemporary designs of his own.
Lee’s wife, Karen, is Calvin Martinez's younger sister. His brother is noted silversmith Earnest Rangel.
