I was born in Seattle, Washington in 1957. I attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM in the late 1970s. Along with my late husband, Samuel Wallace we produce jewelry that is inspired by my Alaskan Native heritage. Our work has been the individual focus of many exhibitions, including the traveling exhibition, Arctic Transformations: The Jewelry of Denise and Samuel Wallace organized by the Anchorage Museum of History and Art in Anchorage, AK. My work is a direct reflection of my home, my ancestors and my connection to the world. The work is a narrative, figurative, tangible interpretation of being Alaskan Native. The jewelry is fabricated in Sterling Silver, 14K Gold and each piece has custom lapidary work which is hand carved and hand scrimshawed. After my husband passed away in 2010 I have continued to work and collaborate with my son David Wallace who does most of my lapidary work.
