Meet Cherokee Beadwork Artists

Jennifer Saenz

Jennifer Saenz

Jennifer Saenz

Oklahoma Cherokee Beadwork Artist Jennifer Saenz was born and resides in Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University. Her Native American name is Ahyoka (Joy).

She began learning beadwork in 2022 at Mid-America All Indian Museum.

Beginning in late 2023, she started creating portrait beadwork of historical Native American figures while collaborating with design artist Debbie Franklin Richard.

In 2024, she expanded her skills by learning to design her own portrait beadwork.

Jennifer and her mother, Vicky, both create portrait beadwork and share a deep passion for telling the stories of Native American ancestors through their art. Our ancestors may be part of our past, but through this beadwork, they become part of our present and future.

Jennifer’s beadwork, including pieces featuring Wilma Mankiller, has been purchased by the Cherokee Nation for display in future buildings.

Some of Jennifer’s early portrait beadwork, created in collaboration with design artist Debbie Franklin Richard, was featured in Into the Mirror at the Oklahoma History Center in early 2024.

In 2025, she curated, co-designed, and beaded a joint exhibition titled Threads of Untold History. All of the works in this exhibition were beaded by Jennifer and her mother, Vicky Watson.

"Portrait beadwork is our medium for visual storytelling, which I call Beadtelling ™ - Jennifer Saenz

We want to honor our ancestors.

“When you evoke emotion, you can light a desire to learn and change” - Jennifer Saenz

Vicky Watson

Jennifer Saenz

Jennifer Saenz

Oklahoma Cherokee Beadwork Artist Vicky Watson was born and resides in Oklahoma. She graduated from University of Central Oklahoma. Her Native American name is Kamama (Butterfly).

Vicky’s Cherokee great-grandfather and father lived on allotment land in Yonkers Oklahoma part of Wagoner County within the Cherokee Nation. The allotment land remains in their family.

She began learning beadwork in 2022 at Mid-America All Indian Museum.

In 2024, she began creating portrait beadwork portraying historical Native American figures.

Vicky loves creating intricate beadwork that captures the essence of the Cherokee and all Native American cultures, ensuring their traditions are passed down to future generations.

Vicky's beadwork, including pieces featuring Sequoyah were purchased by the Cherokee Nation to be displayed in future buildings.

Some of Vicky’s early portrait beadwork, created in collaboration with design artist Debbie Franklin Richard, was featured in Into the Mirror at the Oklahoma History Center in early 2024.
In 2025, she presented a joint exhibition titled Threads of Untold History, for which she and her daughter, Jennifer Saenz, served as the only bead artists. Every work in the exhibition was intricately beaded by the two artists together.

Beadwork is intricately intertwined within Cherokee culture and identity. Vicky wants to continue this tradition.