Shawn Espinosa

Mr Espinosa's work has been shown and sold at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of the Fur Trade near Chadron, Nebraska, The Heritage Center at Red Cloud School, among other notable places. In 2019 Shawn was commissioned to create parfleche designs for the Thorlos sock company's First Nations Collection!

In May 2020, Shawn sat down with South Dakota Public Broadcasting reporter Chynna Lockett for a great discussion of parfleche history, his work making new parfleche, and the struggle earning a living as a Native artist.

An enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Mr Espinosa is a true Culture Bearer for a highly significant element of Native American history. Although largely self-taught, he carries on an Espinosa family tradition of parfleche work. Shawn supports his family solely through the sale of his art.

His heirloom quality parfleche is sure to last generations and increase in value. 

Shawn lives on the edge of the Badlands near Oglala, South Dakota with his wife Maretta Afraid of Bear and their sons, Dante and Cody. He is a Charter Member of Seven Fires Art.

We are pleased to offer a variety of Mr Espinosa's expertly crafted and highly collectable parfleche designs!

You can also find Shawn on Facebook at Espinosa Parfeche and Rawhide.