About

Lisa Patencio is Koyukon, Athabascan with English, Scottish and Irish DNA. She identifies as a diaspora Athabascan. Patencio was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Yakima, Washington. She is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Ruby.

Today, she resides in Southern California with her husband and cat Bunny.

Artist Statement

 I am a bead artist, expressing myself through wearable art.  Beads were introduced to my Athabascan family in the early 1900’s. My great, great Grandmother adapted beadwork into our material culture. At an early age, I was taught how to bead by my Athabascan mother. At the time, I was more interested in reading the encyclopedia. Before I begin any piece of art, I research. Part of my art practice is reinterpreting Athabascan designs from the early 1900s that reside in Institutions and in private collections. This revitalizes and releases the designs living behind closed doors with a limited audience to the public.