Marie Sheppard Navajo Raised Design Textile – 45.5" × 29.5"

This exceptional Navajo (Diné) textile by Marie Sheppard, one of the most respected master weavers in contemporary Navajo art, showcases her celebrated Raised Design technique. This sophisticated double-weave method creates the subtle sculptural relief that high-end galleries prize in her work. Known for her extraordinary discipline—often advancing only inches during long days at the loom—Sheppard achieves remarkable clarity here with a tight structure of 9 wefts per inch and 15 warps per inch.

A radiant golden cross anchors the composition, expanding into stepped geometric forms articulated in warm tones of rust, sienna, ochre, and soft brown. These blended hues reflect Sheppard’s signature palette of finely modulated, often hand-dyed colors inspired by desert light. The raised outlines heighten the motif, adding dimensional presence and quiet drama. At 45.5" × 29.5", this textile is beautifully suited for wall display, offering collectors a refined example of Sheppard’s acclaimed artistry.

CONDITION

In good condition overall, with light surface wear and a few small areas of raised or loose yarn ends visible near the central motif, as shown in the photos. Colors remain strong with no notable fading, and the weave retains solid structural integrity.

DIMENSIONS

45.5" H × 29.5" W

Artist Biography: Marie Sheppard (Navajo/Diné)

Marie Sheppard is an esteemed Navajo (Diné) weaver recognized for her exceptional mastery of the Raised Design, or raised outline, technique—an advanced weaving method that introduces sculptural dimension and intricate depth to traditional Navajo textiles. Born into the Red Running Water Together Clan and the Walking Around People Clan, Sheppard learned her craft from her mother and grandmother, inheriting generations of skill, discipline, and cultural tradition.

Sheppard’s work is distinguished by its remarkable technical precision. She is known to weave for long, uninterrupted stretches—sometimes up to fourteen hours a day—advancing as little as six to eight inches on a moderately sized loom due to the complexity of her designs. Her rugs frequently incorporate expansive tonal palettes, occasionally using more than forty subtly varied colors, many of which she hand-dyes or re-dyes to achieve the nuanced hues she prefers.

Her compositions often reinterpret classic Navajo patterns—Storm Pattern, Double Diamond, Teec Nos Pos, and New Lands designs—infusing them with a contemporary sensitivity for color and form. The raised-outline technique enhances these motifs with textural relief, adding visual drama and emphasizing symmetry and movement.

Throughout her career, Sheppard has earned recognition as a master weaver, with her work exhibited by leading Native art galleries and honored at juried events such as the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial. Collectors prize her textiles for their dense weave structures, disciplined craftsmanship, and refined aesthetic.

Today, Marie Sheppard continues to uphold the Diné weaving tradition while expanding its artistic possibilities, producing textiles that resonate as both cultural expressions and highly accomplished works of art.