Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimey Begaye.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Kimey Rose Begaye, and I am a Diné and Lakota artist, community advocate, and the owner and artist behind Kimimilas Beadwork. I grew up on the Navajo reservation and later moved to California when I was 16. Growing up, my culture, family, and community shaped so much of who I am today.
My journey with beadwork started small. I began creating pieces and learning through the process, never really knowing how far it would take me. Over time, I continued challenging myself, trying new designs, creating larger and more detailed pieces, and eventually building Kimimilas Beadwork into my own business. What started as something I enjoyed doing became a way for me to express my creativity, culture, identity, and connection to community.
At the same time, I continued my education and became a first generation college graduate, earning my bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Human Services in 2023. My education led me into community based work, where I have been able to work with Native communities, support prevention and wellness programs, and create opportunities centered around culture, healing, and connection.
As my beadwork grew, so did the opportunities around it. My work has taken me to fashion shows, museums, conferences, cultural demonstrations, competitions, and community events. I have had opportunities to teach beadwork, create commissioned pieces, share my work with youth, and have my artwork recognized in spaces I never imagined when I first started.
Today, I see everything I do as connected. Whether I am creating beadwork, working within my community, modeling, teaching, or stepping into a new opportunity, I want to represent Native people in a positive way and show our youth that there is space for us everywhere. I am still growing and learning, and I think that is one of the most exciting parts of my story. I am proud of how far I have come, but I also feel like I am just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. One of my biggest struggles has been learning how to believe in myself and recognize that I belong in the spaces and opportunities that have come my way.
Being a first generation college student and building something of my own meant that there were many times when I was figuring things out as I went. When I started Kimimilas Beadwork, I did not have a roadmap for running a business. I had to learn everything from pricing my work and putting myself out there to vending, marketing, creating a website, and learning how to value my time and artwork.
There have also been moments of self doubt, especially when stepping into spaces where Native representation is limited. Sometimes you question whether you are ready or whether you belong there. Over time, I have learned that I do not have to wait until I feel completely ready to take an opportunity.
Balancing my career, community work, beadwork, and personal goals has also been challenging. I care deeply about everything I do, so I sometimes put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything perfectly. I am still learning that growth does not always look perfect and that mistakes, changes, and unexpected moments are part of the process.
Looking back, I am grateful that my journey has not been completely easy because those experiences have taught me to be resourceful, resilient, and willing to keep trying. Every challenge has helped shape the artist, professional, and person I am today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
With Kimimilas Beadwork, I create contemporary Indigenous beadwork that allows me to express myself through color, design, culture, and creativity. I make a little bit of everything, from earrings and medallions to custom pieces, wearable art, and larger statement pieces. I really enjoy challenging myself and seeing how far I can take beadwork rather than staying within one particular style.
I would say one thing that sets me apart is that my work is always evolving. If you look at some of my very first pieces compared to what I create today, you can really see that growth. I have never been afraid to try something new, play with different colors and materials, or create something I have never made before. A lot of the time I learn simply by doing it.
I am most proud of how many different places my beadwork has taken me and the connections I have made because of it. Something that started with me just creating has grown into opportunities to have my work displayed, travel, participate in fashion shows and cultural demonstrations, teach others, create meaningful commissioned pieces, and represent Native artists in spaces I never expected to be in.
I also think what makes my work special is the intention behind it. Not every piece has to tell a huge story, but everything I create has a little piece of me in it. Sometimes it represents my culture, sometimes it represents something I care about, and sometimes I create something simply because it makes me happy. I want people to see my work and recognize that Indigenous art can be traditional, contemporary, playful, bold, fashionable, meaningful, and constantly changing.
I think what I am most proud of is that I have stayed true to myself throughout that growth. Kimimilas has grown with me, and I am excited to see where we both go next.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is my family and being someone my younger siblings can look up to. A lot of what motivates me is knowing that they are watching me grow, take chances, work toward my goals, and continue trying even when things do not always go as planned.
I want to show them that where you come from does not determine how far you can go. Whether it was becoming a first generation college graduate, building Kimimilas Beadwork, working within my community, or stepping into opportunities that sometimes scare me, I want them to see that it is possible to create your own path.
Being a good role model does not mean being perfect. To me, it means showing them the importance of working hard, staying connected to who you are, learning from your mistakes, and not being afraid to dream bigger for yourself.
And it goes beyond just my siblings. I want younger generations to see Native representation and see someone who looks like them going after opportunities, taking up space, and being proud of who they are and where they come from. At the end of the day, I also want to build a life that when I am older, I can look back on and be proud of the person I became, the chances I took, and the example I left behind for others.
Pricing:
- Wristlets: $45
- Beaded lanyard: $100
- Simple Earrings: usually $25 each or 2 for $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimimilasbeadwork.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimimilasbeadwork
