Freddy Charley – Silversmith & Sterling Silver Kachina Artist

About Freddy Charley

Freddy Charley was born in 1962 in Shiprock, New Mexico, a community named for the striking volcanic rock formation that rises dramatically from the surrounding high desert and holds deep cultural significance for the Navajo people. Fred began his silversmithing career in 1987, learning largely on his own alongside additional guidance from fellow smith Randy Shorty — a hybrid path combining self-teaching with informal mentorship that's fairly common among artists who didn't grow up in a household of active silversmiths.

Beyond jewelry, Fred also builds sterling silver Kachina dolls, small sculptural figures representing spirit beings central to Puebloan religious tradition, though rendered here in silver rather than the more traditional carved wood. This cross-medium sculptural work sets him apart from smiths who focus exclusively on wearable jewelry.

Identifying Freddy Charley's Work

His jewelry hallmark reads F. Charley.

Style & Craftsmanship

Fred's combination of self-taught grit and mentorship from Randy Shorty, paired with his sculptural silver Kachina work, gives his overall body of work a broader range than many jewelry-only silversmiths, spanning both wearable and standalone decorative silver pieces.

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