Clayton Salley is an American contemporary art jeweler and metalsmith. As a current Fulbright Fellow in Tainan, Taiwan (2024-2025), Salley is training advanced hollowware processes and developing an art project at the Tainan National University of the Arts’ Jewelry and Metals Studio while working with Professor Amal Yung-huei Chao.

Salley received his MA at the University of Iowa in 2024, working with Professor Kee-ho Yuen, and is a current MFA student of the University of Iowa working with Professor Lonna Keller and Professor Steve McGuire. Salley gained a studio art foundation of traditional metalsmithing processes and studied American conceptual art jewelry history working with Professor Robby Glover and Professor Nancy Slagle at Texas Tech University, where he received his BFA in Studio Art: Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing.

An internationally exhibiting artist, Salley recently delivered presentations at both the “2024 Texas Metals Symposium” (hosted by Texas Tech University’s Metals Club), and virtually at “SHANZHI – The First International Graduate Academic Forum” (Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Hubei, China). Salley recently exhibited his work at the Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, Iowa.