LeRoy Thomas (1946-)

In 1950 Virginia and John Bonnell moved their art gallery, White Hogan, from northern Arizona to Scottsdale, Arizona. There, talented Navajo silversmiths developed a style that could be labeled as “Navajo Modernism.” Among the best known of these artists were Kenneth Begay and Allen Kee. Influenced by Danish modernism, they blended traditional Navajo designs with clean, modern lines creating a distinctive look that continues to influence Navajo jewelers today.

One of the silversmiths who worked at White Hogan in the 1960s was LeRoy Thomas.  Thomas was born in Bitter Springs, Arizona. He began working as a smith at White Hogan and continued to work in the style for which the gallery was known.