Seeking tips on artist-made gifts? Are you trying to find Southwest-inspired stocking stuffers? Want to shop locally and support area artists and artisans? Read the Southwest Contemporary Gift Guide 2023!
For our Southwest Contemporary Gift Guide 2023, we reached out to some select community members and influencers for their recommendations for the holidays—whether gift items, artists, or shops. Read on for tips from super collectors Orren Davis Jordan and Robert Parker, Santa Fe’s “suitably eccentric” elder gay power couple; curator and style icon Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation), the founding director of the Southwest Association for Indian Arts Indigenous Fashion Show; Utah-based multidisciplinary artist, naturalist, and gardener Anna Evans; and Phoenix-arts-scene mainstay Cindy Dach, of MADE art boutique and Changing Hands Bookstore.
Orren and Robert (@orrenandrobert) Recommend for the Southwest Contemporary Gift Guide 2023:
Curios, toys, and folk art from Doodlet’s, Santa Fe
@doodletssantafe
“Downtown on Don Gaspar Doodlet’s is a Santa Fe institution with so many wonderful gift ideas! If you can’t find something fun here just stop looking. 🤣 Even back-in-the-day candy!”
Clothing and Paintings by the Son of Picasso // Products of My Environment, Albuquerque
@productsofmyenvironment
“Native handmade upcycled clothes and accessories. All just spectacular and a major part of our wardrobe! Based in Albuquerque and showing at summer and winter Indian Market. Pieces are available on the website. For the client looking for the unique! Also truly terrific paintings!”
Authentic Native American art, jewelry, and gifts at the Wheelwright Museum Case Trading Post, Santa Fe
@wheelwrightmuseum
“Just wonderful items, all Native-made, from trinkets, pottery, paintings, and especially jewelry!! Also, great book selection 👍. A Native shopper’s paradise.”
Antiques from Santa Fe Antique Mall
@santafeantiques
“Well another shopper’s dream! EVERYTHING under the sun! The past and present right under your nose. Of special interest are the Harvey House original items. You can buy a piece of the Southwest past! The owners and staff are exceptional!”
Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (@amberdawngold) Recommends for the Southwest Contemporary Gift Guide 2023:
Wearable art, fine art, and custom jewelry by Keri Ataumbi (Kiowa), Santa Fe
@ataumbimetals
“Born and raised on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, Keri Ataumbi’s work is inflected with Shoshone, Arapaho, and Kiowa aesthetics. Her metals studio is situated in the Cerrillos hills outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico.”
Clothing and jewelry from Beyond Buckskin Boutique, North Dakota
@beyondbuckskin
“Indigenous-owned online boutique Beyond Buckskin launched in 2009 by Jessica R. Metcalfe (Turtle Mountain Chippewa). The website is dedicated to showcasing and promoting Native North American artists and designers.”
Ayond Skin Care, Santa Fe
@_ayond_
“Founded with a belief that the desert is a ‘powerful source of rejuvenation that awakens our body, mind, and soul to transformative experiences,’ Santa Fe-based Ayond—meaning beyond—is intentional skin care shaped by science.”
Wine by Gruet, Albuquerque and Santa Fe
@gruetwinery
New Mexico’s desert landscape, with its “high elevation, sandy loam soils, and sweeping winds,” proved an ideal starting ground for Gruet’s vineyards. Along with their selection of sparkling and still wines, you can treat yourself or a guest to wine-paired caviar flights at their tasting rooms in Santa Fe or Albuquerque, curated by Beck and Bulow of Santa Fe.”
Anna Evans (@annainthedesert) Recommends for the Southwest Contemporary Gift Guide 2023:
Photo prints by Tyana Arviso, Colorado
@tyanaarviso
“Based in the high desert of Colorado, Diné artist Tyana Arviso’s photo prints reflect the beauty of the Southwest landscape through her unique perspective. Prints are made to order, and would be a wonderful complement to any home in the Southwest.”
Seeds from Grand Prismatic Seed, Utah
@grandprismaticseed
“Grand Prismatic Seed grows high quality, open-pollinated seeds for medicinal herbs, vegetables, dye plants, and flowers native to and which thrive in the Great Basin, Intermountain West, and Colorado Plateau regions.”
Ceramics by Perro y Arena, Baja California
@perroyarena
“Perro y Arena is a creative studio based in Tijuana, Baja California, that creates distinct and playful clay pieces and paintings with animal figures and patterns inspired by the flora and fauna of the Californias.”
Cindy Dach (@madeartboutique) Recommends for the Southwest Contemporary Gift Guide 2023:
“In Phoenix, we have a great number of local boutiques that feature and work with local artists. We also have a wonderful amount of craft pop-up markets. Of course, there is MADE art boutique which is my place and the items that I’m going to recommend are all at MADE. A few other great spots for local artists: Practical Art, Phoenix General, Bunky Boutique, Local Nomad, to name a few.”
Ceramics by Colleen Conlin, Crooked Tree Ceramics, Tucson
@crookedtreeceramics
“Her handmade ceramics are a perfect tactile experience. I am convinced food and coffee taste best in her wares. She embraces and celebrates the Southwest.”
Prints from Jusko Studio, Phoenix
@juskostudio
“These prints embrace the Southwest and also our love for our furry companions.”
Marble coasters by Lace, Grace, and Peonies, Tempe
@lacegraceandpeonies.coasters
“These watercolor marble coasters become the ideal hostess gift or self-gift because they are both beautiful and functional.”
Ceramics, ornaments, and jewelry by Gilded Sun Studio, Phoenix
@gildedsunstudio
“Alesia Allen is a ceramic and jewelry artist residing in Phoenix. Her collection of Southwest ornaments is ideal and very difficult to keep in stock.”
