Kristen Dorsey

Using the world around her for inspiration, Kristen Dorsey makes jewelry to be more than just an ornament to wear. Dorsey pulls from her cultural heritage to design handcrafted pieces that mix her Chickasaw visual traditions with style from the California coast.

Kristen acquired her skills for design at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. While attending school there, she also earned a degree in American Studies with an emphasis in Native American Studies from Tufts University. Combining the knowledge gained from both of these degrees helped Kristen become a unique designer of jewelry. She uses materials and techniques that reflect the history of Native American adornment. Dorsey herself states that "working with these materials and imagery connects me to my ancestors. I firmly believe that culture is never lost, but rather, forgotten." For Kristen, jewelry is a sacred narrative. It connects her to her Chickasaw traditions, and helps her customers connect to a past that they may not know of completely.

In 2011, Kristen founded Kristen Dorsey Designs, LLC. The company is based out of Los Angeles, California, and works hard to maintain environmentally friendly and ethical manufacturing practices. All pieces from the company are designed and built by hand.