Mona Taylor (Eastern Band Cherokee/Diné) has focused her artistry on shell work, both dentalium and abalone. Mona spent much of her life living in northern California and this experience heavily influences her artistic aesthetic. She studied the designs and craftsmanship of northern California tribes and blended these perspectives with her own cultural heritage, which is of both Cherokee and Diné (Navajo Nation). Her grandmother and mother provided the necessary instruction and mentorship to learn shell work. For over thirty years, Taylor has infused her own vision into traditional and contemporary shell work fashion. Taylor currently resides in the Birdtown Community of Cherokee, NC.
Mona Taylor
