Meet the Artist
Erik Nakai Buckley is an award-winning silversmith and artist from Tucson, Arizona.
“I know how special a single piece of jewelry can be and the sentimental value it can hold, whether it’s a lighter case like your grandparent had, a birthday present from a partner, or a gift to yourself that still makes you smile when it catches the light. Being able to facilitate that joy, that sentiment, and that genuine connection was an unexpected consequence of my creation of art; now it’s the bedrock of my work.
I’m making jewelry with the goal of crafting something that looks good enough that you want to wear it, is made well enough that you can pass it down, and is timeless enough that it will still be adored when you do. All for that joy.”
-Erik Nakai Buckley, Owner and Artist
Having grown up amongst the saguaros, Erik was shaped by the desert and continues to be captivated by nature. This admiration for the natural world continues to fuel their artistic endeavors and provides endless inspiration.
In 2010, Erik began metalsmithing at 15 years old, after a couple short weeks of high school art class instruction. After class ended, equipped with a handful of hardware store tools, they began making mistakes, learning through trial and error. Lots of error at first.
Later, Erik started work at a jewelry tool and supply shop. There, they found a patient and capable mentor whose critical eye fueled new technical growth. With her help, as well as sage advice from a wide swath of industry veterans, Erik was able to build an entire skillset around handcrafting jewelry, even including cutting gemstones.
Today, Erik is the primary designer and metalsmith at ENB Jewelry, still proudly planted between the cacti in Tucson, Arizona, where they work out of their desert studio with their wife Abby and their apprentice, Xan.
The ENB Jewelry team is currently available for custom work. Reach out here if you have questions or to schedule a consultation.
Because Erik’s knowledge and skills were built on a foundation of help from others sharing their own experiences, Erik is dedicated to sharing that same knowledge through teaching classes, public demonstrations, and private lessons.
For Erik’s up-to-date class schedule, or to schedule a private lesson, send us a message.
Erik is honored to have been interviewed on various aspects of their lifelong career in creating art.
Check out some of Erik’s recent interviews:
