Description: Bronze Large (2000) | Large Dimensions: 13”h x 22”w x 3”d; Small Dimensions: 1 ¾”h x 2 ¾”w x ¾”d

An award-winning sculptor, Upton “Greyshoes” Ethelbah was born in Santa Fe in 1943. His mother is from the Santa Clara Pueblo and his father is White Mountain Apache. Upton incorporates elements from both cultures in his work and frequently also pays homage to other indigenous peoples from the southwest.



After his discharge from the Navy in 1968, Upton attended and graduated from the University of New Mexico where he majored in Sociology and Psychology. Subsequently, he spent many years working in the social work and educational arenas. About a year prior to retiring, a friend suggested that he consider stone carving. Upton was up for the challenge and the former teacher became a student and enrolled in the Pojoaque Pueblo Poeh Arts Program where he completed six consecutive semesters alongside others who were many, many years his junior. Upton thoroughly enjoy being around his younger classmates and appreciated their youthful enthusiasm.



Stone sculpture work is arduous and physically demanding, but somehow Upton makes it appear otherwise as he did in these handsome pieces that are suggestive in form rather than realistic depictions of bears. Both have elegant shapes, appearances, and have a highly polished copper patina.



The smaller of the two was commissioned and gifted to many colleagues and friends by Eddie Basha. It’s light weight and balance make it the perfect piece to hold and slide a thumb back and forth across its smooth, curved surface, akin to a worry stone.

Description: Alabaster & Bronze (2002) | Dimensions: 7”h x 4”w x 3”d (Each)

An award-winning stone and bronze sculptor, Upton “Greyshoes” Ethelbah was born in Santa Fe in 1943. His mother is from the Santa Clara Pueblo and his father is White Mountain Apache. Upton incorporates elements from both cultures in his work and frequently also pays homage to other native peoples from the southwest.

After his discharge from the Navy in 1968, Upton attended the University of New Mexico where he majored in Sociology and Psychology. Subsequently, he spent many years working in the social work and educational arenas. About a year prior to retiring, a friend suggested that he consider stone carving. Upton was up for the challenge and the former teacher became a student again and enrolled in the Pojoaque Pueblo Poeh Arts Program where he honed his skills alongside others who were many years his junior. Upton thoroughly enjoy being around his younger classmates and appreciated their enthusiasm.

Here he presents a representation of an Apache warrior wearing a ceremonial buffalo headdress. Ethelbah’s work is highly stylized utilizing flowing shapes and forms that suggest figures while moving his art toward the abstract. He works in stone first and then makes a mold from the original stone sculpture to produce a bronze edition. This particular piece of Upton’s was a commission piece; the bronzes purchased by Eddie were gifted to business associates and were caste at the Bronzesmith Fine Art Foundry & Gallery in Prescott, Arizona. The original alabaster sculpture and one bronze remain a part of the permanent collection.