For over 35 years, First Nations Artist David Neel has been making exquisite Northwest coast Native hand engraved wedding rings, engagement bands, gold pendants, & silver bracelets. He takes pleasure in making objects that symbolize the most important events in his customers’ lives.
David started his career as a professional photographer, before returning home after 25 years away, to follow in his family’s footsteps and became a traditional Northwest coast Indigenous artist. David is a member of the Kwakiutl First Nation, and his artistic heritage includes: Ellen Neel, Mungo Martin and Charlie James. He got his start by apprenticing with traditional carvers from his father’s village of Alert Bay, BC. Then, with a Community Scholars grant from the Smithsonian Institution, he studied the works of his ancestors by visiting the archives of the great public collections of the world, including - London, England; Washington, DC; New York, NY, Seattle, WA; and Ottawa, ON, to name a few.
He is represented in numerous public collections, and he has had over one hundred exhibitions in public institutions, including the National Museum of the American Indian and the Venice Biennale. David has authored 3 books on Northwest coast Indigenous culture; his fourth book, on Kwakiutl legends, is being written now.