kevin tsosie

Kevin Tsosie

Shepherd, Weaver, and Adobe Architect
Chinle, Arizona

Kevin Tsosie is a Diné/Navajo shepherd, weaver, and adobe architect.

He shepherds his family’s flock at their sheep camp in the high desert mesa, taking care of the sheep from birth to death. He works from sheep-to-loom — shearing the sheep, cleaning the wool, carding and spinning the fibers, dyeing with natural pigments, and weaving on Navajo looms. He uses these fibers to weave functional Navajo textiles, including blankets, robes, horse cinches, and shepherding bags.

He began experimenting with mud and earth building as a way to return to the land and develop resourcefulness and self-reliance. Since building his own weaving studio out of handmade adobes, he's built 7 hornos (outdoor adobe ovens) and leads workshops on adobe-making and horno-building.

Kevin lives in Chinle, Arizona, and is a recurring Artist-in-Residence at the Futuros Ancestral studio in Taos, New Mexico — where he became a Co-Director after spearheading their Adobe Horno Cooperative.

With Futuros, he draws on his ancestral skills to support emerging and experienced artists alike in keeping traditions alive. He facilitates workshops on Navajo weaving, sheep-to-loom fleece processing, and goat and sheep shearing — and he collaborates with Pueblo weavers and Hispanic adoberos on making adobes and building clay ovens for the preservation of traditional foods.

When creating both form and function, he draws inspiration from the images he sees when herding sheep and working with the earth. He honors his ancestors by remembering their stories and carrying on their traditions.

bááh bighan / traditional clay ovens

Talpa, New Mexico (2025)

We built an horno at our weaving studio in Talpa to support year-round workshops with our artists-in-residence on traditional foods,

Horno lead: Kevin Tsosie

Taos Pueblo (2025)

Designed & built in collaboration with Marlee Espinosa, Henrietta Gomez, and their families at the home of Marlee's late grandmother.

Grandma Rey originally had two large hornos in this same spot, and after they crumbled she always hoped tto rebuild.

This horno needed to be large enough to hold at least 20 bread pans, so that her children & grandchildren can continue the tradition of baking for Feast Days.

Horno leads: Kevin Tsosie & Daniel Barela

Dixon, New Mexico (2025)

The Embudo Valley Library & Community Center received a grant from New Mexico Arts to build an horno. We partnered with kids & teachers from their afterschool program, as well as community volunteers to build this horno and lead educational workshops.

Horno leads: Kevin Tsosie & Daniel Barela

Taos Land Trust (2025)

With the goal of building an outdoor educational space to support their community gardens and traditional foods curriculum, TLT asked us to build an horno along the paths of Rio Fernando Park.

We led their Youth Conservation Corps apprentices in adobe workshops, then our artists-in-residence offered traditional foods workshops in the newly built oven.

Horno leads: Kevin Tsosie & Daniel Barela

Valdez, New Mexico (2025)

Rose Reza's mother always wanted to have an horno at their family home & orchard — and this summer they finally got one!

Horno lead: Kevin Tsosie

Taos Pueblo (2025)

Designed & built in collaboration with Henrietta Gomez, Marlee Espinosa, and their families at Henrietta's home.

Henrietta wanted a smaller horno that was perfect for family baking (rather than larger Feast Day quantities), that could be fired more frequently using less firewood, and with a raised platform for accessibility.

Horno leads: Kevin Tsosie & Daniel Barela