ELIAS JADE NOT AFRAID (Apsaalooké (Crow) Nation, b. 1990)

Elias Jade Not Afraid, born in 1990, is an award-winning Apsaalooké (Crow Nation) bead artist who grew up on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. Self-taught, he began beading at the age of 12 by disassembling his great-grandmother’s beadwork to learn her two-needle appliqué techniques. Over the years, he mastered other beading techniques used by his tribe Not Afraid specializes in wearable art and jewelry meant to be passed down through generations. He has revolutionized the beadwork industry by incorporating his unique style and colors, using traditional Crow designs and quality materials, while also educating others about his craft.

Beadwork is vital for his tribe’s cultural survival, and Not Afraid continues to teach and evolve traditional designs. Using bright, vibrant colors and innovative motifs like beaded skulls or snakes, his work pushes the boundaries of traditional beadwork while preserving the cultural significance of Crow designs and colors.

He has collaborated with Crate & Barrel and Wells Fargo and has won multiple awards. His beadwork is included in the permanent collections of museums like The Field Museum, The Heard Museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and The Smithsonian.