Barbara Teller Ornelas

Background Ornelas is Tabaaha clan (Edgewater) and born for To-heedliinii clan (Two Water Flows Together). She grew up at Two Grey Hills Trading Post in Tohatchi, New Mexico, before later moving to Arizona. Learning from her mother, grandmothers, and older sister, she is a fifth-generation Navajo weaver.

Art process She weaves tapestries with sheep wool from local flocks raised by Navajo families. She weaves textiles with high weft-counts, including some that are from 102 to 140 wefts.

Awards The Conrad House Award, Heard Museum Guild Fair and Market

Cultural ambassador Ornelas has traveled extensively as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. She has been a part of cultural programs in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Peru. How To Weave a Navajo Rug and Other Lessons from Spider Woman (2020), Thrums Books

Personal life Her adult children Sierra Teller Ornelas and Michael Teller Ornelas are sixth-generation Navajo weavers.