Cliff Swain-Salomon is an off-the-loom seed bead weaver known for creating non-traditional jewelry shapes and pushing the boundaries of color exploration. After injuring and losing use of both of his hands for over three years, he began beading when a friend recommended he try it as part of his hand rehabilitation therapy. Once he started, he was hooked.

In all of his pieces, Cliff integrates over 30 years of study in multiple fields, including graphic design, painting, as well as apprenticeships with several medicine men and women, exploring sacred geometry and chromotherapy. His art has been featured in several publications and exhibits, including Bead & Button (October 2018, June 2019), Style Magazine, Facet Jewelry, Palos Verdes Arts Center, Conejo Valley Art Museum Show, and California Lutheran University, to name a few. Recently, Toho Beads also invited him to be a featured artist for their 2019 Toho Bead Challenge. The piece he designed for them is currently touring the United States and will continue through Europe before being brought to Japan in 2020 to be added to the Toho Museum’s exhibition. Cliff has won several awards for his work including the People’s Choice Award for Bead Dreams 2018 and Juror’s Selection at Placer Artists Studio Tour.

Cliff teaches beadweaving at various stores and retreats, and he will be teaching at the Bead & Button show in June 2019. He also has been an invited lecturer and teacher for various bead societies across the United States.