Tuscarora Beadwork

Where Living Culture Meets One-of-a-Kind Artistry

Generations of Art

Tuscarora Raised Beadwork is built into the fabric of the Tuscarora Nation. Patterns, designs, techniques, and finished pieces are passed down from generation to generation. Classes are held to introduce beginners to the practice and to provide new challenges to experienced beaderworkers. Overtime, each artist develops their own unique style and approach. Innovation continues to occur, even after nearly 200 years of beadwork production. You can often guess who the artist is just by seeing their work.

Tuscarora is renowned as originators of a style of beadwork known as Raised Beadwork. The technique brings a pieces to life with depth and interest. Beads are intricately hand-stitched and overlapped to velvet and other backers to give the piece a three-dimensional look making it stand out from flatwork. This technique is often used to create beautiful flowers, clans, and even text.

More than adornment

Tuscarora beadwork is more than adornment—it is living culture, carried forward by skilled hands and creative minds. Each piece tells a story through color, pattern, and intention, reflecting generations of knowledge while speaking firmly in the present. On this page, we honor the artists who continue this tradition, sharing their work with care, respect, and authenticity.

This space also serves as the central home for our latest beadwork offerings. From one-of-a-kind statement pieces to finely detailed works meant to be worn or displayed, every item featured here is handcrafted and thoughtfully curated. Availability changes as new work is completed and released, making this page the first place to discover what’s new.

By purchasing beadwork through Tuscarora WoodWorks, you are directly supporting Indigenous artists and the continuation of a living art form. We invite you to return often, learn about the artists, and experience beadwork as it exists today—rooted in tradition, created in the now.