Darrell Jumbo

Darrell Jumbo, a.k.a. “Elephant Man,” was born on ancestral land on the Navajo Reservation in a remote area of the Chuska Mountains in eastern New Mexico. He is probably best known for his silver pins, which are boundless depictions of numerous animal characters. More often than not, Darrell’s animal pins are behaving as if they’ve just been told the most hilarious tale. One look at these creatures, and you can’t help but chuckle. Darrell insists, “My pieces don’t make fun of animals, but of our human nature as seen through them.” Sometimes, the elements of our nature that Darrell is poking fun at are absolutely apparent as he provides helpful clues in the funny names with which he often entitles his jewelry pieces. Other times, even with a title in place, we’re left to ponder the exact meaning behind his wonderful artwork.

Besides the unusual themes of his pieces, Darrell’s techniques are also amazing, resulting in pieces that truly come alive. His animals frequently show movement, personality, and even emotions, which is testament to his great skill as a contemporary artist. According to Darrell, “I often use a variety of silversmithing techniques, including stampwork, fusion, overlay, inlay, reticulation, granulation, texturing, and more on a single piece to heighten its visual impact . . .’’