Charlie Willeto Diné/Navajo, 1897-1964

Charlie Willeto was a Navajo sheepherder and medicine man who began carving in the early 1960s, creating nearly 400 figures in the final years of his life. Drawing from the tradition of the illness doll—a ceremonial object used in healing rites—Willeto transformed this practice into a visionary and personal artform. His carvings, made from repurposed wood and painted with bold geometric patterns, depict human, animal, and spiritual forms, ranging from a few inches to over four feet tall.

Though initially viewed with caution by some within his community, Willeto's work came to be recognized for its originality and spiritual resonance. He traded many of his pieces at the Mauzy Trading Post, defying commercial expectations with art that bridged sacred tradition and individual expression. His figures reflect a deep connection to Navajo culture, while also standing apart as singular expressions of imagination, symbolism, and power.