About Jeff
Jeff Suina is a native american artist from Pueblo de Cochiti, New Mexico. He creates works of clay with traditional and contemporary materials and methods. He has extensive professional experience in civil engineering, 3D modeling, design, and visualization. He draws his inspiration from a variety of subjects: quantum mechanics, string theory, astronomy, and science fiction. Jeff has shown his work at shows such as The Santa Fe Indian Market, The Heard Indian Market and Fair, King Galleries Santa Fe and Scottsdale, and other galleries and museums across the United States. His art has found homes all over the world.
2025 saw major changes in Jeff’s life as he was appointed to serve as Lieutenant Governor for Pueblo de Cochiti. As he adjusted to his duties, he found that his experiences as a tribal leader sharpened his focus on his art, and with what limited time he had, he was able to compete in and win at the 2025 Santa Fe Indian Market. With his term now expired, he sees 2026 as an intense return to his main passion: art.
Jeff has received first place ribbons in The Santa Fe Indian Market (2025, 2024, 2023), The Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial (2024), and other events he has participated in. Jeff made his artistic debut in March at the 2026 Heard Indian Fair and Market. The event was a resounding success as he received a second place ribbon for his piece Dragonfly. His work also caught the attention of a new audience of collectors who had never seen his art before.
Jeff grew up in Pueblo de Cochiti and comes from a long line of artists. He is the great-grandson of Tonita Pena (Qua’-ah) on his mother’s side and Stephanita Herrera (Hahnee-yahts) on his father’s. Both were acclaimed artists in different media. Jeff learned his craft as a boy watching his mother create storytellers and nativity sets. His interests quickly shifted towards science fiction and astrophysics as the clear starry skies and Star Wars captured his young imagination. He received his degree in Architecture and shortly after became a professional 3D Modeler and Animator, with an emphasis on Engineering Visualization. It wasn’t until recent years that he felt the clay calling him home, and he rekindled the knowledge and skills he learned decades earlier. He began first with traditional shapes but soon found his imagination and 3D modeling skills emerging in his work. His pieces have been called futuristic, avante garde, architectural, and they have received acclaim in the native american art world.
Jeff lives in Cochiti with his wife Esther and his sons Branden, Aiden, and Alex. He is a tribal councilman and has served in leadership appointments for his tribe. He is active traditionally in the Pueblo and is a familiar face amongst these events. His ultimate goals as an artist are to express his ideas, continue the legacy of his bloodline, and to set an example to the Pueblo youth that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.
